一頓特殊的午餐
Once there was a very poor and devoted woman who always prayed to the Glory of God, asking very little, if anything for herself.
從前有一個很貧窮,很虔誠的婦人,她常常向圣明的上帝禱告,但卻基本上不為自己祈禱什么—即使偶爾有一次,也索取很少。
But one thought, one desire continued to recur and finally she asked, petitioning the Lord,that if it were possible she would love to prepare a special meal and have God share at her table.
然而,總有一個念頭,一種愿望不斷地出現(xiàn),于是她向上帝禱告:如果可以,她愿意特別準(zhǔn)備一頓午餐,邀上帝與自己共享。
And God, in His Love for this goodly woman, said He would indeed come the next day and share a meal.
上帝深愛著這個善良的子民,于是他接受了她的邀請,承諾第二天定會與她共進午餐。
Filled with ecstasy, the woman went out the following morning with her meager purse and purchased such delicacies that she felt would please the Lord.
婦人欣喜若狂,盡管沒什么錢,但她還是一早出門,買了許多美食,她認為上帝會喜歡。
Returning home, she prepared a banquet and waited patiently for her most honored guest.
一回到家,婦人便準(zhǔn)備了一桌假藥,耐心地等待著最尊貴的客人光臨。
Soon there was a knock on the door, and when she opened it, there stood an old beggar asking for something to eat.
不一會兒,門外響起了敲門聲。婦人忙去開門,站在門外的是一個要飯的老乞丐。
Being a woman of God, she could not turn the beggar away, so she invited him in to partake of her table.
作為上帝的子民,婦人不能讓自己趕走老乞丐,于是便邀請他進屋共進午餐。
The beggar felt as if he was in a dream—such a feast set before him.He finished all the food, thanked his hostess and left.
老乞丐做夢也沒想到會有人如此款待自己。他一口氣吃光了所有的美食,向婦人道過謝,便離開了。
The woman was only slightly disheartened, and then she gathered up her purse, her coat,and hurried back to town to get more food for her special guest.
婦人有一點失望,但僅僅是一點點。很快她就拿上錢包,穿上外套,匆匆忙忙回到鎮(zhèn)上,她要去給她的貴客再買些吃的。
Her funds were less now and so the food was not quite so elaborate.
這次,婦人的錢所剩無幾,買的食物也沒有上次的那么美味了,
Nonetheless, she lovingly prepared another meal and sat to await the arrival of theAlmighty.
但她還是精心地準(zhǔn)備了另一桌飯菜,期待著上帝的大駕光臨。