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God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.—Jewish proverb上帝不能无处都在，因此他创造了母亲。——犹太谚语
We adopted Luke four years ago. Th people from the orphanage dropped him of at our hotel room without even saying goodbye. He was nearly six years old, only 28 pounds and his face was crisscrossed with scars. Clearly, he was terrified “What are his favorite things?” I yelled. “Noodles,” they replied as the elevator door shut.
Luke kicked and screamed. I stood between him and the door to keep him from bolting.His cries were anguished , animal-like. He had never seen a mirror and tried to escape by running through one. I wound my arms around him so he could not hit or kick. After an hour and a half he finally fell asleep, exhausted. I called room service. They delivered every noodle dish on the menu. Luke woke up, looked at me and started sobbing again. I handed him chopsticks and pointed at the food. He stopped crying and started to eat. He ate until I was sure he would be sick.
Tha night we went for a walk. Delighted at the moon, he pantomimed , “What is it?” I said, “Th moon, it’s the moon.” He reached up and tried to touch it. He cried again when I tried to give him a bath until I started to play with the water. By the end of his bath the room was soaked and he was giggling . I lotioned him up, powdered him down and clothed him in sof PJs. We read the book One Yellow Lion. He loved looking at the colorful pictures and turning the pages. By the end of the night he was saying, “One yellow lion.”
Th next day we met orphanage officia to do paperwork. Luke was on my lap as they file into the room. He looked at them and wrapped my arms tightly around his waist.②
He was a sad, shy boy for a long time afte those firs days. He cried easily and withdrew at the slightest provocation . He hid food in his pillowcase and foraged in garbage cans. I wondered then if he would ever get over the wounds of neglect that the orphanage had beaten into him.③
It has been four years. Luke is a smart, funny, happy fourth-grader. He is loaded with charm and is a natural athlete.④ His teachers say he is well behaved and works very hard. Our neighbor says she has never seen a happier kid.
When I think back, I am amazed at what transformed this abused, terrifie little creature.It was not therapy, counselors or medications. It did not cost money, require connections or great privilege. It was love: just simple, plain, easy to give. Love is primal. It is comprised of compassion, care, security, and a leap of faith.⑤ I believe in the power of love to transform. I believe in the power of love to heal.
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① I believe in love’s humble, practical components and their combined power. 我相信爱体现在实际生活的细微之处，以及这些细微之处汇合起来的威力。
component n. 要素
② Luke was on my lap as they file into the room. He looked at them and wrapped my arms tightly around his waist. 当他们排队进入房间的时候，Luke正坐在我膝盖上。他瞅着他们并让我使劲搂着他的腰。
file into... 排队进入……
③ I wondered then if he would ever get over the wounds of neglect that the orphanage had beaten into him. 我不知道他是否会从孤儿院所留给他的伤痛中恢复过来，摆脱被忽略的感觉。
beat... into 灌输……到（头脑中）
④ Luke is a smart, funny, happy fourth-grader. He is loaded with charm and is a natural athlete. Luke现在读四年级，他聪明伶俐，活泼快乐；他朝气蓬勃，而且是一个天生的运动健将。
be loaded with... 充满着，载满着
⑤ It was not therapy, counselors or medications. It did not cost money, require connections or great privilege. It was love: just simple, plain, easy to give. Love is primal. It is comprised of compassion, care, security, and a leap of faith. （治愈和转变孩子）靠的不是医疗，也不是心理咨询，更不是药物。它并不需要花费金钱，也不需要什么社会关系或者特权。只需要爱，只需要付出简单而平实的爱。爱是原始的，它包含着怜悯、关心、安全和满怀信心。
1. What kind of life did Luke lead before adopted by Jackie?
A. He led a comfortable life in the open air.
B. He could hardly keep body and soul together.
C. He lived happily with her parents at an orphanage.
D. He disliked all the food except noodles.
2. How did Jackie gain the trust of Luke?
a. She gave him enough food to eat.
b. She tried to give him a bath.
c. The read the picture book together.
d. She hid food for him in the cans.
e. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
f. She taught him something new.
A. a, c, f B. a, b, e C. b, c, d D. d, e, f
3. Which words can be used to describe Jackie Lantry?
A. Aggressive and warm-hearted.B. Considerate and selfish
C. Patient and loving.D. Helpful and successful.
4. What is the meaning of the underlined word “comprised” in the last paragraph?
A. group B. composed C. release D. importance
5. What is the power of love from the passage?
If you were Luke, what would you say to your adoptive parents twenty years later? Discuss with your partners and write down your opinion.