The Greatest Love

王志刚

“慈母手中线， 游子身上衣”“谁言寸草心，报得三春晖”。母亲是世界上最伟大、最无私的人。她宽容大度，她不求回报，她为子女付出很多很多……

I have loved my mothers desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as mother sat doing letters. Standing by her chair looking at the ink bottle， pens and white paper， I decided that the act of writing must be the more wonderful thing in the world.

Years later， during her final illness， mother kept different things for my sister and brother. “But the desk，” shed said again，“ its for Elizabeth. ”

I never saw her angry， never saw her cry. I knew she loved me， she showed it in action. But as a young girl， I wanted heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.

They never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional（易动感情的）”. But she lived “on the surface（表面）”.

As years passed I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive（原諒） me.

I posted the letter and waited for her answer. None came.

My hope turned to disappointment（失望）， then little interest and， finally， peace it seemed that nothing happened. I couldnt be sure that the letter had even got to mother. I only knew that I had written it， and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.

Now the present of her desk told， as shed never been able to， that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside —a photo of my father and a one-page letter， folded（折叠） and refolded many times.

Give me an answer， my letter asks， in any way you choose. Mother， you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.