He lost his arms in an accident that claimed his father's life—who was the main source of support for the family. Since then, he has had to depend on the arms of his younger brother. For the sake of taking care of him, his younger brother became his shadow, never leaving him alone for years. Except for writing with his toes, he was completely unable to do anything in his life.
One late night, he suffered from diarrhea and had to wake up his younger brother. His younger brother accompanied him into the toilet and then went back the dorm to wait. But being so tired, his younger brother fell asleep, leaving him in the toilet for two hours till the teacher on duty discovered him. As the two brothers grew up together, they had their share of problems and they would often quarrel. Then one day, his younger brother wanted to live separate from him, living his own life, as many normal people do. So he was heart-broken and didn't know what to do.
A similar misfortune befell a girl, too. One night her mother, who suffered from chronic mental illness disappeared. So her father went out looking for her mother, leaving her alone at home. She tried to prepare meals for her parents, only to overturn the kerosene light on the stove, resulting in a fire which took her hands away.
Though her elder sister who was studying in another city, showed her willingness to take care of her, she was determined to be completely independent. At school, she always studied hard. Most of all she learned to be self-reliant. Once she wrote the following in her composition: “I am lucky. Though I lost my arms, I still have legs; I am lucky. Though my wings are broken, my heart can still fly.”
One day, the boy and the girl were both invited to appear on a television interview program. The boy told the TV host about his uncertain future at being left on his own, whereas the girl was full of enthusiasm for her life. They both were asked to write something on a piece of paper with their toes. The boy wrote: My younger brother's arms are my arms, while the girl wrote: broken wings, flying heart.
They had both endured the same ordeal, but their different attitudes determined the nature of their lives. It is true that life is unpredictable. Disasters can strike at any time. How you handle misfortune when confronted with it, is the true test of your character. If you choose only to complain and escape from the ordeal, it will always follow you wherever you go. But if you decide to be strong, the hardship will turn out to be a fortune on which new hopes will arise.
【助读词汇】
-diarrhea n. 痢疾，腹泻
-chronic adj. 慢性的，延续很长的
-kerosene n. 煤油，火油
-ordeal n. 严酷的考验，苦难的经历
-unpredictable adj. 不可预知的，无法预见的
【参考译文】
翅膀断了，心仍飞翔
在一次事故中，他家中作为顶梁柱的父亲永远地离去了，他也因此失去了双手。从那时起，他只能依靠弟弟的手生活。为了照顾他，弟弟多年来一直形影不离地跟在他的身边，他除了学会了用脚趾头写字之外，生活上完全不能自理。
一天夜里，他因为腹泻于是不得不叫醒了弟弟。弟弟帮着他进了厕所后，就回宿舍等候。但是因为太过劳累，弟弟睡着了，留他在厕所里等了整整两个小时，直到查夜的老师发现他。随着两兄弟慢慢长大，他们也有烦恼和争执。终于有一天弟弟要离开他过自己正常的生活，就像很多正常人一样，为此，他很伤心，不知如何是好。
无独有偶，另一个女孩也有着同样的遭遇。一天夜里，长期患有精神病的妈妈突然不见了，爸爸去找妈妈，家中便只留下她一人。她想要做好饭菜等爸爸妈妈回来吃，却不小心将灶台上的煤油灯打翻，结果双手便被大火夺走了。
虽然在另一个城市读书的姐姐愿意照顾她，可倔强的她一定要独立生活。在学校，她总是刻苦努力，最重要的是她学会了生活自理。她曾在一篇作文里写道：“我很幸运，虽然我失去了双手，但我还拥有一双脚；我很幸运，虽然翅膀断了，但我的心仍然可以飞翔……”
有一天，男孩和女孩都被一家电视台邀请参加一个电视节目采访。面对主持人，男孩表现出了对前途的迷茫，而女孩则对生活充满了热情。主持人要求他们用脚趾分别在一张白纸上写一句话。男孩写的是：弟弟的手便是我的手。女孩却写下了：翅膀断了，心也要飞翔。
他们俩都经受了同样的苦难，但不同的人生态度却决定了他们生活的本质。是的，人生总是变幻的，苦难总是在不知不觉中骤然降临。如何应对苦难，是对你的性格的真正考验。面对苦难，如果选择抱怨与逃避，苦难就永远如影随形；但如果选择坚强，苦难便会化作甘泉，滋润美好的希望。
【人生启迪】
生活从来都不是一帆风顺的，它充斥着各种各样的苦难，但是面对苦难，又有多少个人能够坚强面对呢。更多的人只是在不停地抱怨生活得不公，为什么自己会遭遇到如此的不幸，其实生活对待每个人都是公平的，记得有句话叫做，态度决定一切，其实面对生活中的苦难，很多时候只要我们坚强的面对，就会发现，其实美好的希望就在苦难的背后，当苦难过去，总会迎来美好的明天。