It was a few days before Christmas many years ago and it looked like it would be a lean one for my family.

多年前，在圣诞节前的那几天，我意识到对于我们家来说，这将会是一个紧巴巴的圣诞节。

The saw mill that I was working at had laid a lot of us off while machinery was being repaired so we didn’t have much money.

我工作的木材加工厂当时正在维修机器，于是我们当中很多被临时停雇，因此我们当时没有什么钱。

My wife and I had scrimped and saved to buy our young children some toys, but an unexpected car repair had taken most of our cash. We decided then that we could only afford to get one small gift for each of our children.

我和妻子过得节俭，把余下来的钱准备给年幼的孩子们买礼物。但是突如其来的汽车修理花费了我们大部分现金，于是我们不得不承认剩下的钱只够给每个孩子买一个小礼物。

We arrived at the store, walked down the parking lot and past people loading gifts into their cars. I envied them a bit, because it sure didn’t feel like Christmas to me.

我们到了商店，经过停车场的时候，看见人们在把礼物装进自己的车里。我有点嫉妒他们，因为我并不觉得自己是在过圣诞节。

We hurried into the store past the Salvation army bell ringer with our heads down. I had always enjoyed putting something in his kettle before but wasn’t sure if I could afford to this time. 

我们急急忙忙走进商店，在经过救世军敲钟人的时候，我们低下了头。（以往）我都会在他的小壶里放上些东西，但是我不确定这次我还能不能付得起。

We searched all through the store hoping to find one thing each of our small children would like. Thankfully, we were able to get them each someone sweet. We headed for the checkout, bought the toys, and were amazed that we even had a few dollars left over. 

我们把商店找了个底朝天，希望能够给我们每一个年幼的孩子都买一个小礼物。谢天谢地，我们的钱能给每个孩子都买点称心的礼物。我们走向收银台，把玩具结账，然后惊喜地发现，还多了几块钱。

As we walked out of the store into the brisk, Winter air I stopped and dropped those dollars into the bell ringer’s kettle. I didn’t have a dime left but that didn’t matter. Suddenly, it felt like Christmas.

我们走出商店，感受到了冬天清冽的风，在救世军敲钟人那里停了下来，将找零的几块钱放进了他的小壶中。（现在）我一分钱都没有了，但是我突然感觉到了圣诞节来了。

I think the wonderful actress, Dale Evans put it best when she said: “Christmas is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give it’s Christmas.” It doesn’t have to be a gift of money either. When we give our time, it’s Christmas. When we share our smile, it’s Christmas. When we give others our kindness and compassion, it’s Christmas. When we do anything at any time to help another, it’s Christmas.

在我看来，女演员Dale Evan把圣诞节的意义阐释得最好，“圣诞精神在于满怀着爱的行动，每当我们去关爱、去施予，就体现了圣诞精神。”它并不需要你花钱买礼物。每当我们愿意为别人花时间（做公益），那就是圣诞节；每当我们用笑容（感染周围），那就是圣诞节；每当我们对别人亲切友善、热情满满，那就是圣诞节。无论何时，无论以何种方式，每当我们帮助别人，那就是圣诞节。

May you do all you can to make it Christmas every day of the year and every day of your life here. May you always share God’s light through the love you give and the life you live.

愿你们在一生中每一年中的每一天，都带着圣诞精神。愿你们用自己的爱与人生来传扬上帝的光辉。