很久以前，当我走在生命的道路上，我看到一个牌子，上写：“天堂的杂货店”。

当我走上前去，门自动打开了，我反应过来后，发现自己已经站在店里了。

我看到一群天使，店里随处都有他们的身影，一位交给我一个篮子，便说，“孩子，小心采购。”

在杂货店里有每一个人需要的东西，你拿不动时以后还可以再回来拿。

我先取了些“忍耐”，“仁爱”也在同一排货架上，在往下走就看到“理解”，这是你去哪儿都非常需要的。

我又拿了一两盒“智慧”和一两袋“信心”，当然我还需要一些“善良”，我也没忘记“圣灵”，他到处都在。

为了跑这生命的竞赛，我拿了些“力量”和“勇气”。

我的篮子快满了，可我想起还需要“恩典”，我又选了“救恩”，因为那是免费的，我心想多拿一点足够你和我用。

然后，走向柜台准备付钱，心想我拿到了遵行主的旨意所需要的一切货物。

在另一个货架上，我看见“祷告”，所以就拿了点儿，因为我知道一走到外面就会碰到“罪恶”。

“平安”和“喜乐”供货充足，摆在架子最后面，“诗歌”和“赞美”就在旁边，所以我也顺手拿了些。

然后，我就对天使说：“我要付多少？”

他笑着说：“只要你无论去哪里都带着就行了。”

我又问：“说实话，我欠你多少？”

他说：“孩子，耶稣在很久以前就为你付了账。”——

As I was walking down life’s highway many years ago, I came upon a sign that read:“Heaven’s Grocery Store”.

   When I got a little closer，the doors swung open wide.

   And when I came to myself，I was standing inside.

   I saw a host of angels; they were standing everywhere.

   One handed me a basket and said，“My child，shop with care.”

   Everything a human needed was in that grocery store.

   And what you could not carry you could come back for more.

   First I got some Patience; Love was in that same row.

   Further down was Understanding，you need that everywhere you go.

   I got a box or two of Wisdom and Faith a bag or two.

   And Charity，of course，I would need some of that too.

   I couldn’t miss the Holy Ghost; it was all over the place.

   And then some Strength and Courage to help me run the race.

   My basket was getting full，but I remembered I needed Grace,

   And then I chose Salvation for Salvation was for free, I tried to get enough of that to do for you and me.

   Then I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill, for I thought I had everything to do the Master’s will.

   As I went up the aisle，I saw Prayer and put that in,for I knew when I stepped outside，I would run into sin.

   Peace and Joy were plentiful，the last things on the shelf.

   Song and Praise were hanging near，so I just helped myself.

   Then I said to the angel，“Now，how much do I owe?”

   He smiled and said，“Just take them everywhere you go.”

   Again I asked，“Really now，how much do I owe?”

   “My child,”he said，“Jesus paid your bill a long time ago.”

   (真理报加西版2004年2月号)