接着产前阵痛就来临了，每五分钟一次……每分钟一次。但在分娩过程中出现了并发症，阵痛持续了几个小时。是不是需要剖腹产？终于，迈克尔的小妹妹降生了。但她的情况很严重。伴着晚上警报器的鸣叫声，救护车把婴儿送到田纳西州诺克斯维尔市的圣玛丽医院，新生儿重病特护区。
日子一天天过去了。女婴的情况愈来愈糟。儿科专家告诉这对父母：“希望非常渺茫。请做好最坏的打算吧。”卡伦和她的丈夫联系了当地一家公墓，安排了葬礼的计划。
他们在家里布置好了一间特别的婴儿房，现在却要计划一个葬礼。
迈克尔一直乞求父母让他进去看看小妹妹，“我想唱歌给她听，”他说。
这 是 重 病 特 护 的 第 二 周了。看来好像到不了这周结束葬礼就要来临了。迈克尔不断地缠着要给小妹妹唱歌听，然而重病特护区不允许儿童入内。不过卡伦下定了决心，不管他们愿不愿意，她都要带迈克尔进去。
如果现在他看不到他的小妹妹，就再也没机会见到她了。她为儿子穿了一身特大型的防护服，带他走进重点护理组。他看起来就像一个行走的洗衣篮，不过护士长认出这是一个孩子，她吼道：“马上带那个孩子离开这儿！
禁止小孩入内。”卡伦的母性变得坚强起来，这位平日里温柔的女士用坚毅的目光盯着护士长的脸，坚定地说：“他不会离开的，除非给他妹妹唱首歌。”卡伦拉着迈克尔走到他小妹妹的床前。他盯着这个不再为生存而挣扎的小婴儿，开始唱歌。用三岁孩子单纯的心声，迈克尔唱道：
“你是我的阳光，唯一的阳光，当天空灰暗你能使我快乐——”
女婴立刻有了反应。脉搏跳动变得平静而稳定。
迈克尔一直在唱着：“亲爱的，你从来不知道我有多么爱你。请不要带走我的阳光——”不规则的、紧张的呼吸变得如小猫的呼噜声那般安稳。
迈克尔继续唱着：“亲爱的，那天晚上当我睡着，我梦到我把你抱在怀中……”他的小妹妹仿佛在休息般地放松下来了，复原般的休整，似乎在她身上扩展开来。
迈克尔还在唱着。泪水在护士长的脸上肆意流着。卡伦变得容光焕发。“你是我的阳光，唯一的阳光。请别带走我的阳光。”
葬礼计划取消了。第二天——就在第二天——女婴就好起来，可以回家了！
《妇女日》杂志称之为“哥哥歌唱的奇迹”。医护人员说这就是一个奇迹。卡伦说它是上帝之爱的奇迹。
决不要放弃你所爱的人。爱的力量强大无比。生命是美好的。
Keep on Singing
Like any good mother， when Karenfound out that another baby was on theway， she did what she could to help her3-year-old son， Michael， prepare for anew sibling. They find out that the newbaby is going to be a girl， and day afterday， night after night， Michael sings tohis sister in Mommys tummy.
The pregnancy progresses normallyfor Karen， an active member of thePanther Creek United MethodistChurch in Morristown， Tennessee.
Then the labor pains come. Everyfive minutes… every minute. Butcomplications arise during delivery.
Hours of labor pains. Would a C-sectionbe required？ Finally， Michaels littlesister is born. But she is in seriouscondition. With siren howling in thenight， the ambulance rushes the infantto the neonatal intensive care unit at St.
Marys Hospital in Knoxville， Tennessee.
The days inch by. The little girlgets worse. The pediatric specialist tellsthe parents， “There is very little hope.
Be prepared for the worst.” Karen andher husband contact a local cemeteryabout a burial plot. They have fixed up aspecial room in their home for the newbaby - now they plan a funeral.
Michael， keeps begging his parentsto let him see his sister， “I want to singto her，” he says. It is the second week inintensive care. It looks as if a funeral willcome before the week is over. Michaelkeeps nagging about singingto his sister， but kids arenever allowed in IntensiveCare. But Karen makes upher mind. She will takeMichael whether they like itor not.
If he doesnt see hissister now， he may never seeher alive. She dresses him inan oversized scrub suit andmarches him into ICU. Helooks like a walking laundrybasket， but the head nurserecognizes him as a childand bellows， “Get that kidout of here now！ No childrenare allowed.” The motherrises up strong in Karen， andthe usually mild-manneredlady glares steel-eyed intothe head nurses face， herlips a firm line. “He is notleaving until he sings to hissister！” Karen tows Michaelto his sisters bedside. Hegazes at the tiny infantlosing the battle to live. Andhe begins to sing. In the purehearted voice of a 3-year-old，Michael sings：
“You are my sunshine，my only sunshine， you makeme happy when skies aregray -”
Instantly the baby girlresponds. The pulse ratebecomes calm and steady.
Keep on singing，Michael. “You never know，dear， how much I loveyou. Please dont take mysunshine away -” Theragged， strained breathingbecomes as smooth as akittens purr.
Keep on singing，Michael. “The other night，dear， as I lay sleeping， Idreamed I held you in myarms” Michaels little sisterrelaxes as rest， healing rest，seems to sweep over her.
Keep on singing，Michael. Tears conquerthe face of the bossy headnurse. Karen glows. “Youare my sunshine， my onlysunshine. Please dont takemy sunshine away.”
Funeral plans arescrapped. The next day -the very next day - thelittle girl is well enough togo home！
Womans Day magazinecalled it “the miracle of abrothers song.” The medicalstaff just called it a miracle.
Karen called it a miracle ofGods love！
Never give up on thepeople you love. Love is soincredibly powerful. Life isgood.
一个小苹果树
一个贫穷的农夫有一个朋友，因为种出了神奇的苹果树而远近闻名。
一天，这个朋友送了一棵小苹果树给这个农夫，让他把它拿回家后，好好种植。
农夫非常喜欢这个礼物，但他回家后，却不知道该把它种在哪里。
如果把树种在路边，他担心有陌生人会偷走苹果。如果把树种在自己的田地里，他又担心邻居晚上会偷走苹果。如果把树种在家门口，他又怕孩子会摘走苹果。
最后，他把树种在树林里，这样就不会有人看见了。但是，小树苗因为缺乏阳光和沃土，很快就死掉了。
后来，朋友问农夫，你为什么要把树栽到那么贫瘠的地方去呢？“那能怎么样呢？”农夫气愤地说：“我把苹果树栽在路边，陌生人可能会偷走苹果；栽在自己的田地里，邻居们晚上会偷走一些；如果栽在家附近，自己的孩子们可能会摘走一些。”
“是的，”他的朋友说道，“但是至少一些人能分享到果实，现在你不仅剥夺了他们分享的权利，还毁了一棵很好的苹果树苗！”
A Young Apple Tree
A poor farmer had a friend who was famousfor the wonderful apple he grew.
One day， his friend gave the farmer a youngapple tree and told him to take it home and plant it.
The farmer was pleased with the gift， but whenhe got home he did not know where to plant it.
He was afraid that if he planted the tree nearthe road， strangers would steal the fruit. If heplanted the tree in one of his field， his neighborswould come at night and steal some of the apples.
If he planted the tree near his house， his childrenwould take the fruit.
Finally he planted the tree in his wood whereno one could see it. But without sunlight andgood soil， the tree soon died.
Later the friend asked the farmer why he hadplanted the tree in such a poor place. “Whatsthe difference？” The farmer said angrily. “If I hadplanted the tree near the road， strangers wouldhave stolen the fruit. If I had planted the tree inone of my field， my neighbors would have comeat night and stolen some of the apples. If I hadplanted it near my house， my own children wouldhave taken the fruit.”
“Yes，” said the friend， “but at least someonecould have enjoyed the fruit. Now you not onlyhave robbed everyone of the fruit， but also youhave destroyed a good apple tree！”
走在阳光下
古老的风车终于被经年累月的风雨摧毁了。它的车轮已经生锈、掉落了，静静地躺在茂密的草丛中。
在落日的余晖中，曾经生机勃勃的风车如今成了冷冰冰的尖塔模样。
我已经有15年没有去过这个古老的农场了，但那种熟悉的感觉还是如潮水般涌来。我似乎还能闻到新割的苜蓿的清新气息，还能感觉到夏天的雷阵雨敲打在身上的滋味，以及湿漉漉的身体被七月雨后阳光的照射骤然温暖的感觉。
我曾经风雨无阻地每天走在这条小径上，去看望葛利塔。她总能让我开怀大笑，哪怕我刚和姐姐大吵了一架。我会帮她做点家务。
然后，她就会做巧克力曲奇饼和冰激凌给我吃，让我大饱口福。虽然她整天只能坐在轮椅上，但这并不妨碍她成为一名很棒的厨师。
葛利塔曾送给我两份礼物，这是我收到的所有礼物中最棒的。第一份礼物是，她教会了我认字。第二份是，她教导我，要忘记与姐姐之间的争执。我不再觉得委屈，心情也变得开朗起来。
葛利塔的丈夫去世后，当地的银行家丁肯先生原本想要收回她抵押给银行的房子。