God listening?
上帝在听吗？
When I think of my family, I consider it “nor－mal”—two working parents, a daughter, a son, and even a white picket fence2. Our family life was stable and dependable—until one January day.
It was a Sunday morningand I was getting ready to baby-sit3.My door was shut. Suddenly I could hear my mom running up the stairs, screaming my name. I thought Dad must be playfully chasing her, as he often does. As I opened the door to watch the fun, it might have been the tears in her eyes or her terri－fied4 look, but I knew something was really wrong. Soon I was downstairs with my family, each with our own tearsand terrified looks. My father was in the basement5 seated in a chair, his limp6 body being supported by my brother. He could hardly talk; only murmurs7 came from his mouth. His eyes were squint－ed8 and he was breathing heavily.
My mom sent me outside to wait for the ambu－lance9. I wasn’t in any state to argue. In the two or three minutes it took for the medics to get there, my whole life changed. What was happening? What would I do without my father? Why him? Why me? Why hadn’t I told him that I loved him?
I could hear the sirens10 in the distance. They sounded light years away.
When help finally arrived, I begged them to hur－ry. The medics went to my father and after a quick exam, put him in the ambulance and rushed him to the hospital.
At the hospital, the hours dragged11 like years. Finally the doctor came and told us what had hap－pened. His medical jargon12 meant nothing to me, but I did catch the word “stroke13” here and there. My father, my father, had a stroke? How could this be happening?
My dad stayed at the hospital for two days. Both nights I bargained with God. I knew that if there was ever a time I needed his help, this was it. I swore that if he spared my father, I would never ask for anything again. I vowed14 never to take my father for granted15 again. I promised away everything I had to have my father back. I wanted my crumbling16 world to be nor－mal again.
I just hoped God was listening.
On the third day, the doctor met us as we were coming in. He said he had to talk to us. This is it, I thought.
He sat us down and started to talk. I did all I could do to concentrate17 on his words. Finally I heard “fully recover”. I burst into tears at last—happy tears. My prayers had been ansSince then, I realize that nothing is ever certain. Now, when my parents say something, I listen. When the family sits down to dinner, we enjoy each other’s company.Dinner time isn’t just time to fill our stom－achs. It’s a time to fill our heads and hearts with memo－ries to last forever. I have come to believe firmly that you don’t realize what you have until it is almost tak－en away.
我觉得我的家庭很普通——两个工作的父母，一个女儿，一个儿子，还有一道白色的篱笆。我们的家庭稳固牢靠——直到一月份的一天。
那是一个星期天的早上，我正准备去给人照料孩子。我的房门关着，突然，我听见我妈一边尖叫着喊我的名字一边冲上楼来。我想肯定是我爸像平常一样追赶她逗着玩。我打开房门看热闹，似乎看到妈妈眼中的泪水，亦或是害怕的表情？我感到不妙。很快，我和妈妈都流着泪，满脸紧张地一起下楼。爸爸坐在地下室的椅子上，软弱无力的身体靠弟弟支持着。他无法讲话，只能从嘴里挤出几声嘟哝声，眯着眼睛，呼吸沉重。
妈妈让我到外边等救护车，我没心情和她争辩。在等医生来的二三分钟时间里，我感到我的生活变了。到底发生了什么事？失去了父亲我怎么办？这事为什么会发生在他身上？为什么会发生在我身上？我还没告诉爸爸我爱他呢！
远远地我听见救护车的警鸣声，缥缈地恍如几个世纪之前的声音。
我乞求医生动作快点，他们给父亲做了简单的检查后，把他抬上救护车，赶往医院去了。
在医院里，简直度日如年。医生走过来告诉我们有关父亲的情况，他的那些医学术语我一句也听不进，只听到一个词“中风”。我的父亲，我的父亲中风？为什么会发生这样的事？
父亲住院的两天里，我每天晚上都向上帝祈祷，如果哪天我需要上帝帮忙的话，那就是这次了。如果他能宽恕父亲，我发誓不会再做他求，且再也不会认为父亲的存在是理所当然的了。我承诺用我的一切来换父亲的生命，我只求这支离破碎的一切能恢复正常。
仅求上帝能听到我的祈祷。
到第三天，我们一进医院就见到医生，他说有话对我们说。我想我的祈祷终于有回应了。
医生让我们坐下后开始说话。我努力了听他说话，终于，我听到了“痊愈”两个字。我泪如泉涌——开心的泪。我的祈祷得到了回应，我又拥有父亲了。
自那以后，我不再认为一切都是理所当然的了。如今，只要父母说话我都会认真地听。当我们坐在一块吃饭时，我会很珍惜这一相伴的时刻。晚餐时间不仅仅是填饱我们的胃，还填补我们心灵永久的记忆。我坚信只有当你失去时才会倍感珍惜。