英文美文：学会感恩，你就会学会快乐

 
It was 28 years ago. I was a young dad with two babies under three.
那是28年前，我是一个年轻的父亲，有两个3岁以下的孩子。
My Mom and Dad had invited us to their home for Thanksgiving dinner.
我父母邀请我和我的孩子们去他们家吃感恩节晚餐。
Their tiny house was packed. There was my wife, myself, and our babies.
他们的房子又小又拥挤。我和我的妻子和孩子都在那里。
My two brothers were also there with their families as well.
我的两个兄弟和他们的家人也在那里。
The kitchen table was full and people were eating on TV trays and with plates in their laps.
桌子上挤满了人。 每个人都在吃放在他们腿上的电视托盘上的食物。We eased around each other so as not to spill our overflowing plates and full glasses.
我们的盘子里装满了食物，杯子里装满了饮料。 每个人都在调整自己的姿势，以免溅到别人身上。
Tummies were being filled with turkey, gravy, potatoes, stuffing, buttered rolls, and pumpkin pie.
我们的肚子里塞满了火鸡肉，肉汁，烤土豆，火鸡填馅，黄油面包卷，还有南瓜派。
Old memories were being shared with laughter and love. A dozen different conversations were going on at once.
我们分享着共同的回忆，我们同时聊着十几种不同的话题，言笑晏晏，爱意浓浓。
I sat off to the side, silently sipping my sweet tea and taking it all in.
最后，我坐在一旁，静静地啜饮着茶，所有这些都深深印在我的脑海里。
I saw my baby girl in her high chair with her face covered in mashed potatoes.
我看到我的小女儿，她坐在婴儿餐椅里，脸上糊满了土豆泥。
My little boy was still eating while gravy dripped down his shirt.
我的小儿子还在吃,肉汁从他的衬衣上滴下来。
My Mom was cutting up the pumpkin pie for dessert with a smile on her face.
我妈妈正面带微笑地把甜点南瓜派切成碎片。
My wife and sisters-in-law were talking in one corner while my Dad and two brothers were laughing and teasing each other in the living room.
我妻子和嫂子正在餐馆的角落里聊天。 我父亲和两个兄弟在客厅里互相取笑，大声笑着。
As I watched it all, suddenly I had a feeling in the center of my chest.
我看着这一切，内心油然升起一种特殊的感受。
It was a curious mixture of peace, contentment, love, and joy.  
我内心以一种奇妙的方式感受到和平、满足、爱和快乐。
It made me feel full to overflowing in my heart as well as my stomach.
我的心和胃一样满满的，简直爆棚。
I realized then what I was feeling: a moment of pure thankfulness on Thanksgiving Day.
这时我明白了这种奇异的感受，这就是感恩节上最虔诚的感恩。

So many years have gone by since then. Still, that moment lives on in my heart like it was yesterday.
从那时起过了许多年。但是，那段时光还活在我心里，宛如昨日。
It wasn't the food that made it so special. It was the coming together as a family in love.
让这一天如此特别的不是食物，而是彼此相爱的家庭成员。
My Mom and Dad have passed on to Heaven now and my brothers and I don't see each other as much as I would like.
我的父母都已仙逝，我的兄弟和我也不常见面，虽然我很希望多见见他们。
Yet, I can still feel their love for me. I carry it always in my heart and soul.
不过，我仍能感受到他们对我的爱。我总把他们的爱放在心尖，刻入我的灵魂。
Thanksgiving isn't just a holiday that we celebrate once a year.
感恩节并不单单只是一个一年一度的节日。
It is a way of life. When we fill our hearts with thankfulness we open them to even more blessings.
这是一种生活方式。当我们的心中充满感激时，我们可以敞开心扉去获得更多的快乐。
When we fill our hearts with love we become the people we were always meant to be.
当我们的心中充满爱，我们就能成为我们一直想成为的人。
And when we share that love with others we make this world what it was meant to be as well.
当我们与他人分享爱时，我们也能让世界变得更美好。
May all of your days be full of Thanksgiving then. May all of your moments be full of Love!
让你的每一天充满感激！ 愿你生命中的每一刻都充满爱！