Philip, I wanna tell you a story. And like all good stories, it starts like this:

Philip，我要跟你说个故事。而就像所有的好故事一样，它是像这样子开始的：

Once upon a time, there was a father, and in case you can’t figure that out, that’s me. This father had a wonderful little boy. He was very happy.

从前从前，有一位父亲，万一你搞不清楚，那个人就是我。这位父亲有个很棒的小男孩。他非常开心。

Then one day, he found out that his wife was going to have another baby. So I prayed, “Lord, if it’s Your Will, make her a little girl.” And He did. I was the first person to hold her in my arms.

接着有一天，他发现他的妻子即将有了另一个宝宝。所以我祈祷：「老天爷啊，如果这是您的旨意，让她是个小女孩吧。」而祂答应了。我是第一个将她抱在怀里的人。

And I looked at her, and I said, “Lord, make her like her mother.” And He did. She was loving, giving, so good and so kind.

然后我看着她，我说：「老天爷啊，让她像她妈妈吧。」然后祂办到了。她深情、奉献、很好心又很仁慈。

But then I realized I was getting left out. So I said, “Lord, make her like me.” And He did. She could drive a truck and a tractor. She could load hay and chew tobacco. Do you realize what you’re getting?

但接下来我了解到我给遗漏了。所以我说：「老天爷啊，让她像我吧。」然后祂照办了。她能够驾驶卡车和牵引机。她可以堆牧草还能嚼烟草。你知道你即将得到的是什么吗?

But at the same time, she was opinionated, emotional and hard-headed. So I said, “Lord, that’s enough of that! Make her like You.” And He did. He gave her the desire to serve people. She loves people. She gave her life to being a nurse. She’s brought people back from the dead. And she’s held the hand of people who have breathed their last breath. He gave her a heart for missions, and she’s trekked all over the world. Pushed canoes up swollen rivers, laid on the floor while bullets whizzed outside so she could tell people about Jesus.

但同时，她顽固、情绪化而且强悍。所以我说：「老天爷啊，那样足够了!让她像你吧。」而祂做到了。她给了她服务人群的渴望。她爱人们。她奉献一生当个护士。她曾把人从鬼门关给救回来。她曾握着那些咽下最后一口气的人们的手。她给了她传道的勇气，而她曾艰苦跋涉了千山万水遍及世界。推独木舟逆着涨水的河流而上、子弹呼啸在外时卧伏在地，如此而能够向人们传播耶稣的福音。

But still something was missing, so I said, “Lord, make her happy.” And she met you. Did you see that look on her face? I never saw that until she met you. And I’m grateful for that. Today I’m giving you the best thing I have to give.

但仍然缺少某个东西，所以我说：「老天爷啊，让她快乐吧。」然后她遇见了你。你看到了她脸上的那表情吗?直到她遇见了你我才见到那表情。而我因此心怀感激。今天我要将我所拥有能够施予最棒的东西交给你。

I just want you to know before I do that, how hard me and God has worked to get her ready. So Philip, as I give her to you, I don’t think you’ll mind if I give you one more word of advice. Me and God’s worked hard. Don’t screw it up!

在我那样做之前，我只是想要你知道，老天爷和我是已经多么地努力将她给准备好。所以Philip，当我将她交给你之时，我不认为你会介意如果我多给你一句忠告。老天爷和我已经很努力了。别搞砸了!