It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The streams were long gone back into the earth. If we didn’t see some rain soon we would lose everything. It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the best miracle I have ever seen in my life.

I was in the kitchen making lunch for the family when I saw my six-year old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. I could only see his back. He wasn’t walking with his usual steps. He was obviously walking with great effort... trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to make sandwiches, thinking that whatever he had been doing was completed. Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful long step toward the woods. This activity went on for over an hour: walking cautiously to the woods, then running back to the house. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me. I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey.

He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked; being very careful not to spill(溅出) the water he held in them. I stepped close as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face but he did not try to avoid them. He might have a much greater purpose, I thought. As I came closer, I saw the most amazing sight. Several large deer stood in front of him. Billy walked right up to them, at the sight of which I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck (雄鹿) was dangerously close. But the buck neither threatened him nor even moved as Billy knelt down. And I saw a baby deer lying on the ground, obviously suffering from heavy loss of water and heat exhaustion, lifting its head with great effort to lap (舔) up the water cupped in my boy’s hands.

When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house. I followed him

This time I joined him, with a small pot of water from the kitchen

One evening, it was raining heavily. An old lady was sitting inside her car, stuck in the middle of the road. It was clear that she badly needed help. A poorly dressed man approached her car but hesitated to speak.

The lady rolled down her window. She looked worried. She tried to smile as the man approached.

“Hello ma’am, can I help you?” the man said. The lady looked puzzled and said, “Yes.” “Please wait inside your car and let me see if I can solve the problem. By the way, I’m Thomas Anderson,” the man named Thomas said. He discovered that she had a flat tire and soon fixed the problem.

“I really don’t have enough words to thank you. How much should I pay you?” she asked, ready to reward him for his kindness. Thomas was surprised. He had never expected any reward from her, though his family would badly need money once their baby was born next month.

“That’s so nice of you, ma’am,” he said. “But if you really want to pay me back, the next time you see someone who needs help, please think of me and help that person. I hope this chain of love will not end with you.” He smiled and went away before the lady could say anything more.

The lady was touched. Anyone who saw the ragged man would think that he needed help, even though he was the one who was helping others.

As the lady went on her way, she found a small cafe down the road. She decided to have a cup of hot coffee. As she went inside, a waitress came up to her with a very clean towel so that she could dry her wet hair. The lady observed that the waitress was heavily pregnant(怀孕的). She looked tired, but she tried not to show it.

While drinking her coffee, the old lady thought of Thomas and what he had said.

The waitress found $500 beneath the napkin.

Years ago, not long after graduating from school and starting my career in Denver, I set off on an exciting alone trip to reunite with an old friend. As I packed my car, little did I know that this adventure would uncover the remarkable bonds that can form between strangers, all driven by the simple exchange of “thank you.”

My journey began with an exciting flight to Albuquerque, a lively city in New Mexico. My ultimate destination was Oklahoma City, where I looked forward to visiting a dear friend. The trip was relatively smooth, treating me to beautiful sights along the way. While waiting in line to pay for gas, I struck up a friendly chat with an older couple who were also refueling their vehicle.

Continuing my journey with joy in my heart, dark smoke suddenly rising from my car’s back. Panic grasped me as I hurriedly pulled over to the side of the road, unsure of our next steps.   In an incredible turning point of fate, the same friendly couple from the gas station pulled up behind my car. With warm smiles and open hearts, they generously offered to drive me to my friend’s place in Oklahoma City. During the ride, we engaged in lively conversations, sharing stories and laughter as the miles passed by. Upon reaching our destination, the husband even handed me his business card as a gesture of goodwill and kindness.

Appreciative of their help, I later expressed my gratitude through a heartfelt thank-you note.   In response, they sent me a precious Christmas gift along with a touching note as well. As the years passed, life threw another similar story on my way. On a significant day, I drove to a nearby town for an important meeting.

Unfortunately, in my hurry, I accidentally left my car’s lights on all day long. As nightfall approached, I returned to my car, only to find that the battery had completely died. Thankfully, I noticed the Friendly Ford dealership conveniently located next door. Filled with hope, I entered the showroom, where I encountered two helpful salesmen.

I jokingly inquired, “How friendly is Friendly Ford?”

These events highlight the power of “Thank you.”