美文故事之找谁倚靠 （38）一顿特殊的午餐(上)
A very special meal
一顿特殊的午餐
Once there was a very poor and devoted woman who always prayed to the Glory of God, asking very little, if anything for herself.
从前有一个很贫穷，很虔诚的妇人，她常常向圣明的上帝祷告，但却基本上不为自己祈祷什么—即使偶尔有一次，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，总有一个念头，一种愿望不断地出现，于是她向上帝祷告:如果可以，她愿意特别准备一顿午餐，邀上帝与自己共享。
And God, in His Love for this goodly woman, said He would indeed come the next day and share a meal.
上帝深爱着这个善良的子民，于是他接受了她的邀请，承诺第二天定会与她共进午餐。
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.
妇人欣喜若狂，尽管没什么钱，但她还是一早出门，买了许多美食，她认为上帝会喜欢。
Returning home, she prepared a banquet and waited patiently for her most honored guest.
一回到家，妇人便准备了一桌佳肴，耐心地等待着最尊贵的客人光临。
Soon there was a knock on the door, and when she opened it, there stood an old beggar asking for something to eat.
不一会儿，门外响起了敲门声。妇人忙去开门，站在门外的是一个要饭的老乞丐。
Being a woman of God, she could not turn the beggar away, so she invited him in to partake of her table.
作为上帝的子民，妇人不能让自己赶走老乞丐，于是便邀请他进屋共进午餐。
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.
老乞丐做梦也没想到会有人如此款待自己。他一口气吃光了所有的美食，向妇人道过谢，便离开了。
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.
妇人有一点失望，但仅仅是一点点。很快她就拿上钱包，穿上外套，匆匆忙忙回到镇上，她要去给她的贵客再买些吃的。
Her funds were less now and so the food was not quite so elaborate.
这次，妇人的钱所剩无几，买的食物也没有上次的那么美味了，
Nonetheless, she lovingly prepared another meal and sat to await the arrival of the Almighty.
但她还是精心地准备了另一桌饭菜，期待着上帝的大驾光临。
1.pray for 为求得…而祈祷， 为…而祈祷
So they suffer, and pray for petrol prices to fall.
所以他们只能承受损失，并祈求汽油价格下降。
Dear lord, I pray for wisdom to understand my man.
万能的主啊，我祈求给我智慧以理解他。
2.turn away 转过脸去；拒绝
Germany is not about to turn away from europe.
德国并非要背欧洲而去。
Insurers routinely turn away individuals who are already sick.
保险人通常拒绝为已经生病的人担保。
3.partake of 吃光，带有；分享
Millions try to enter the eu, legally and illegally, because they want to partake of the good life that the eu has created forits citizens.
数百万人试图以合法或非法的方式进入欧盟，因为他们想要分享欧盟为其公民创造的美好生活。
She cradles you her children whilst knowing that it is time to birth a new child, so that all in readiness may partake of thisnew creation.
她轻轻抱着她的孩子们，而她知道是时候诞生一个新宝宝了，以使所有准备就绪的人参与这新 创造。
4.gather up收紧；采集；鼓起
Gather up all the stuffed animals you can and turn a room into a zoo.
尽你所能地收集所有动物标本，将你的卧室开发成动物园。
Scout out some new scenery in the area, gather up the gear, and take the family on a leisurely hike.
搜寻下自己所在社区的新景点收拾好外出的衣服，然后带家人来一次休闲的远足。