One windy spring day, I observed young people having fun using the wind to fly their kites. Multicolored creations of varying shapes and sizes filled the skies like beautiful birds darting and dancing.As the strong winds gusted against the kites, a string kept them in check.
Instead of blowing away with the wind, they arose against it to achieve great heights. They shook and pulled, but the restraining string and the cumbersome tail kept them in tow, facing upward and against the wind.As the kites struggled and trembled against the string, they seemed to say，“Let me go！Let me go！I want to be free！”They soared beautifully even as they fought the restriction of the string.Finally, one of the kites succeeded in breaking loose.“Free at last，”it seemed to say.“Free to fly with the wind.”
Yet freedom from restraint simply put it at the mercy of an unsympathetic breeze. It fluttered ungracefully to the ground and landed in a tangled mass of weeds and string against a dead bush.“Free at last”free to lie powerless in the dirt, to be blown helplessly along the ground, and to lodge lifeless against the first obstruction.
How much like kites we sometimes are. The Heaven gives us adversity and restrictions, rules to follow from which we can grow and gain strength.Restraint is a necessary counterpart to the winds of opposition.Some of us tug at the rules so hard that we never soar to reach the heights we might have obtained.We keep part of the commandment and never rise high enough to get our tails off the ground.
Let us each rise to the great heights, recognizing that some of the restraints that we may chafe under are actually the steadying force that helps us ascend and achieve.
-multicolored [ˈmʌltɪˌkʌləd]adj.多彩的，彩色的
典型例句
The houses were iced over with multicolored stuccoes.
那些房子涂着五颜六色的泥灰。
联想记忆
colorful adj.多彩的
-creation [kriːˈeɪʃn]n.创造，创造的作品，产物
典型例句
The bathroom is entirely my own creation.
浴室完全是由我设计的。
联想记忆
creat v.创造，产生
creative adj.创造（性）的，有创造力的
-achieve [əˈtʃiːv]v.完成，实现，达到
典型例句
I’ve achieved only half of what I’d hoped to do.
我仅完成了目标的一半。
最常用法
achieve success 获得成功
联想记忆
achievement n.完成，达到
accomplish v.达到，完成
realize v.实现
-restraining [rɪˈstreɪnɪŋ]adj.抑制的，遏制的
典型例句
His praise and notice were more restraining than his indifference.
他的赞扬和关注比他的冷淡更能束缚人。
联想记忆
restrain v.阻止，控制，抑制
restraint n.抑制，限制
restrict v.限制，约束
-cumbersome [ˈkʌmbəsəm]adj.笨重的
典型例句
Although the machine looks cumbersome, it is actually easy to use.
尽管这台机器看上去很笨重，操作起来却很容易。
联想记忆
awkward adj.笨拙的
heavy adj.重的
-tremble [ˈtrembl]v.颤抖，哆嗦
典型例句
His voice trembled with rage.
他气得声音都颤抖了。
最常用法
tremble with anger/fear 生气得/害怕得发抖
联想记忆
shake v.摇动
quake v.颤抖，哆嗦
-restriction [rɪˈstrɪkʃn]n.限制，限定，拘束
典型例句
The park is open to the public without restriction.
这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
最常用法
restriction on 对……限制
strict/tough/tight restriction 严格的限制
联想记忆
restrict v.限制，限定
-flutter [ˈflʌtə（r）]v.振翼，飘动
典型例句
The bird fluttered its wings in the cage.
鸟在笼中拍着翅膀。
最常用法
flutter the dovecotes 惊扰过惯平静或平凡生活的人们
flutter about/around/across 拍动翅膀飞（向某方向）
联想记忆
flap v.飘动，拍动
flatter v.谄媚，使高兴
-obstruction [əbˈstrʌkʃn]n.阻挠，障碍物
典型例句
The lorry had been parked on the pavement, causing an obstruction.
卡车停在人行道上，引起了拥堵。
最常用法
obstruction of……的障碍
联想记忆
obstruct v.阻塞，堵塞
obstacle n.障碍
-.counterpart [ˈkauntəpɑːt]n.相对应或具有相同功能的人或物
典型例句
The sales director phoned her counterpart in the other firm.
销售部的女经理给另一家公司的销售部经理打了电话。
联想记忆
counter n.柜台
count v.计算，认为
-.commandment [kəˈmɑːndmənt]n.戒律，命令
典型例句
Honesty is also a commandment God gave to us.
诚实也是神给我们的诫命。
联想记忆
command v.命令，指挥
-.ascend [əˈsend]v.上升，升高
典型例句
We watched the mists ascending from the valley below.
我们看着薄雾从下面的山谷中升起。
联想记忆
rise v.升起
descend v.下降，下跌
在一个有风的春日，我看到一群年轻人正在迎风放风筝。各种颜色、各种形状和大小的风筝就好像美丽的鸟儿在天空中飞舞。尽管大风吹着风筝，但始终有根绳子在牵引着它们。
它们并没有随风飘荡，而是飞起来达到很高的高度。它们摇摆着、拉扯着，但牵引线以及笨重的尾巴使它们处于控制之中，面临着向上和逆风。它们挣扎着、抖动着想要挣脱线的束缚，仿佛在说：“放开我！让我走！我想要自由！”即使当它们与来自绳子的束缚战斗的时候，它们也美丽地高飞着。最后，其中一只风筝成功挣脱了。它似乎在说，“终于自由了。自由随风飞翔。”
然而，从约束中解脱的自由使它完全处于无情微风的摆布。它笨拙地向着地面坠落，落在一堆乱草之中，线缠绕在一颗死灌木上。“终于自由”使它自由到无力地躺在尘土中，无助地吹在地上，碰到第一个障碍物便毫无生命地滞留在那里了。
有时我们真像这风筝啊！上天赋予我们困境和约束，赋予我们成长和增强实力所要遵从的规则。为了应对风的反对，克制是一种必要的配对物。我们中的一些人如此艰难的强行拉扯规则，以至我们从来无法飞到本来能够达到的高度。我们遵守部分戒律，因此永远不会飞得足够高，使尾巴远离地面。
让我们上升到足够的高度，就会认识到有些可能会令我们不满的约束，实际上是帮助我们提升并达到理想的平衡力。