安徽科学技术出版社从美国独家引进的英文版《心灵鸡汤》系列读物,全球热销8000万册。本书语言地道新颖,简约易懂,优美流畅;故事生动有趣,寓意深刻感人,内容极富时代感。本书中的几百个故事会引你们进入爱与感动的深情世界,会使你们活得充满激情;会使你们更有信心地去追求梦想。在面临挑战、遭受挫折之时,这本书会给你以力量;在彷徨、痛苦和失落之际,这本书会给你以慰藉。
此外,作为英语阅读的顶级精品,本套书深得广大读者的推崇与喜爱,广受各方的赞誉和褒奖:被评为“2001年度全国优秀畅销书”;被评为“2001年度全国引进版优秀畅销丛书”;荣获“2002年度全国引进版社科类优秀图书奖”;被评为“2004年度全国优秀畅销书”;在国家九部委联合举办的“中华全民读书书目推荐活动”中,一举入围《2004知识工程推荐书目》;多次荣登各大新华书店的畅销书排行榜。本书是《心灵鸡汤》之《第5辑英文原版》。
Without the stories we are nothing.
Bryce Courtney
From our hearts to yours, we are delighted to offer you A 5th Portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul. This book contains 101 more stories that we know will inspire and motivate you to love more fully and unconditionally, live with more passion and compassion, and pursue your heartfelt dreams with more conviction, action and perseverance. We believe that this book will sustain you in times of challenge, frustration and failure, and comfort you in times of confusion, pain and loss. We hope it will truly become a lifelong companion, offering continual insight and wisdom in many areas of your life.
How to Read This Book
We have been blessed with readers from all over the world who have given us feedback. Some read our books from cover to cover; others pick out a particular chapter that interests them. Some simply can’t put our books down from beginning to end, going through a big box of tissues en route. We’ve been particularty touched by those readers who have reconnected to loved ones or old friends as a result of being inspired by one of the stories.
Many times we have been approached by readers--at a speech or public appearance--who told us how one or more stories were of inestimable value during a period of trial and testing, such as the death of a loved one or a serious illness. We are grateful for having had the opportunity to be of help to so many in this way. Some have told us they keep their Chicken Soup book at bedside, reading one story each night, often rereading favorites. Many use these books as a family gathering experience, reading a story aloud with parents and children gathered together in the evening.
You may choose the path of readers who have gone before you, or simply enjoy reading this book with no particular pattern in mind, letting each story guide your thoughts in new directions. Find the path that’s best for you, and most of all, enjoy!
Introduction
1. ON LOVE
The Seed Jar
Mr. Gillespie
Night Watch
Turn Back
The Little Red Wagon
John
Does God Care About Lost Dogs?
Rufus
One Wing and a Prayer
Nonny
The Light Was On
Scarecrow
Best Friends Forever
The Giving Trees
An Elf’s Tale
The Beloved
Ben and Virginia
Don’t Hope, Friend... Decide!
Love That Lasts
The Beauty of Love
The Decade Diary: A Love Story
Could You Have Loved as Much?
A Gift-Wrapped Memory
A Tribute to Gramps
The Canarsie Rose
2. ON PARENTS AND PARENTING
The Pitcher
Hall of Fame Dad
The Puzzle
My Dad’s Hands
One Small Stone, Unforgotten
Sending Kids Off to School
Let’s Go Bug Hunting More Often
A Mother’s Day Review
What I Want
My Dad
Father’s Day
A Lesson from My Son
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
Slender Thread
Neither Have I
The Thing About Goldfish
3. ON TEACHING AND LEARNING
The Day We Became Brothers
Drop Earrings
A Genius for Loving
Thank You for Changing My Life
When Children Learn
Academic Excellence Begins with a ’51 Studebaker
The Second Mile
Do You Disciple?
It’s a House...It’s a Cow...It’s Ms. Burk!
What Color Are You?
4. ON DEATH AND DYING
To Those I Love
Tommy’s Shoes
Broken Days
Every Loss Is a Mini-Death
The Funeral
Karen, Do You Know Him?
The Horizon
Keeping the Connection
Love Letters
Crying’s Okay
A Blanket for a Friend
When No Words Seem Appropriate
The Rose with No Thorns
The Butterfly Gift
5. A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE
Action Hero
Who Was That Masked Man?
In a Cathedral of Fence Posts and Harleys
Jackie Robinson and Me
Department Store Angel
"Hey Nurse...Thanks"
The Little Black Box
Dinner Out
Home vs. Visitors
The Power of a Promise
The Crooked Smile
The Most Beautiful Flower
6. OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Rodeo Joe
No Excuses Good Enough
Consider This
The Miracle of Love
Medically Impossible
One Step at a Time
A Mother’s Search
The Purpose
Soccer Balls and Violins
A Father’s Calling
A Turning Point
A Match Made in Heaven
Puppy Love
Giant in the Crowd
7. ECLECTIC WISDOM
The Best Time of My Life
josh and His Jag
Grass
A Good Heart to Lean On
The Golden Rule
The Train Ride
True Forgiveness
Spelling Bee
Grandpa’s Little Girl
Lessons You Learned
Acknowledgments