It is the last day of the school year and I stand empty-handed with no gift to give you.

　　It isn't that I haven't tried to think of something thoughtful and kind…… quite to the contrary1. For months， I have combed2 catalogs， browsed3 specialty shops4 and department stores， inquired of novelty5 shops， and even searched the Internet only to realize that no bauble6 or trinket7 or card could measure up8 to the feelings of a mother's grateful heart and a teacher's loving dedication.

　　How I wish a colorful bundle of fresh wildflowers could reflect the beauty of your way with children――the constant patience and nurturing， the gentle encouragement. A keepsake9 basket laden with soothing soaps and bath oils would eventually serve only as a common gift were its sturdy10， woven walls not filled to overflowing with examples of the individual ways you have touched the lives of your students.

　　Jewelry would surely be nice， but what can I afford that would not soon tarnish11 or grow quickly out of style？ You deserve the gems of royalty for your perseverance12 and creativity， your devotion and talent. During the past year， I have given you many small gifts， mostly intangible13 ones.

　　At the moment the first school bell rang last August， I placed in you my trust， believing you would teach my child and reserve respect for me as a parent. I added to that my constant and fervent14 prayers that you would be objective15 and fair with the ability to set limitations while offering my child a chance to learn self-control and to soar a bit in the process. I sincerely petitioned16 that your classroom would be a safe haven for my child to grow and learn， lending itself to17 the crazy， yet somehow perfect， mixture of self-discipline and controlled instruction. I prayed for your health and your happiness， and your ability to be supplied with the tools necessary to complete your task as teacher and educator and mentor18. I offered you my time as often as I could， and my support for your endeavors. Occasionally， I even offered you a challenge when I spoke my mind， sometimes standing firm， sometimes backing down19 with a renewed assurance or a " wait and see" attitude！

　　I wish with all my heart I could put a delicate ribbon on a gayly20 wrapped package and give you a " something" to express my appreciation and affection， but I have nothing to give you that would surpass the most precious gift I have ever had to offer and which you already so graciously accepted months ago―― the one you have held close to your heart， laughed with and probably cried with， applauded and scolded， encouraged and molded――my child！

　　And today， as my child returns to my side for the summer， the gift I humbly give to you is found deep within my heart……

　　I give to you my thanks.

　　一份謙卑的禮物

　　今天是本學年的最后一天，我兩手空空沒有任何禮物送給您。

　　不是我沒有花心思力圖找到一件既有意義又能聊表寸心的禮品……恰恰相反。幾個月來，我翻遍種種商品目錄，去過數家特色商店、百貨店，詢問過飾品商店， 甚至在因特網上搜尋過，但到頭來只是覺得小飾物，小玩藝或賀卡怎么能抵得上一位母親充滿感激的心和一位老師充滿愛意的奉獻呢？

　　我多么希望送給您一束散發著泥土芳香的五彩繽紛的野花，它們能體現您善待孩子的美――持久的耐心、呵護和溫柔的鼓勵。一只裝滿潤膚香皂和浴油的堅實精制的禮籃，如果它那籃框內不是滿盛您一個個觸動學生心靈的具體事例，那終究也不過是一件普通的禮物。

　　首飾當然不錯，但什么樣的珠寶不會很快失去光澤或旋即過時，而我又能買得起呢？以您的堅韌和創造性，您的敬業和才能，您應當擁有皇家的珠寶。在過去的一年里，我已經送給您許多小禮物，其中大部分是無形的。

　　去年8月學校的鈴聲第一次響起時，我就對您寄予信任，相信您會教育好我的孩子，同時保留對我作為一個家長的尊重。在信任的基礎上我給您以不斷的、熱烈的祈禱，希望您在給我孩子以機會讓他學會自控又嘗試翱翔的同時，您能客觀、公正地給孩子設定限制。我真誠地祈禱您的教室是我孩子成長、學習最安全的地方，是自律與有節制的教誨近乎不可能但可稱完美的結合。我為您的健康、您的幸福祈禱，為您作為一名教師、一名教育者、一名導師所必備的種種能力和才干而祈禱。我常盡量抽出時間，支持您的工作。但偶爾我也會直抒己見向您挑戰：有時堅持己見，有時會由于得到您重申的保證而放棄我原來的主張，或采取一種"等等看"的態度！

　　我由衷地祈望，我能用一條精美的絲帶繞在一個用鮮艷的禮品紙包裝的禮盒上送給您點"什么"，以表達我的感激和愛戴，但是我再沒有什么能比得過數月前我已送給您的、您也欣然接受的最為寶貴的禮物――那禮物您已將其緊貼心頭，并與之一起歡笑，也可能一起哭泣，稱贊過也訓斥過，鼓勵著和塑造著的――我的孩子！

　　今天，當我的孩子返回到我的身邊過暑假時，我謙恭地送給您我的禮物，是出自我內心深處的……

　　請接受我深深的謝意。

　　注釋：

　　1.to the contrary 相反地

　　2.comb vt.在…搜尋，在…四處找

　　3.browse vt.瀏覽，隨意觀看

　　4.specialty shop （主美）特色商店（專營某類商品或專為某類顧客而設）

　　5.novelty n.小飾物（常用復數，此處為定語，用單數）

　　6.bauble n.花哨的小玩意兒

　　7.trinket n.小裝飾物，廉價首飾

　　8.measure up 合格，符合標準

　　9.keepsake n.紀念品

　　10.sturdy adj.結實的

　　11.tarnish vt.使失去光澤，使變暗淡

　　12.perseverance n.堅持不懈

　　13.intangible adj.無形的

　　14.fervent adj.熱烈的

　　15.objective adj.客觀的，無偏見的

　　16.petition vt.祈求，懇求

　　17.lend oneself to sth 協助，參與，適于

　　18.mentor n.賢明的顧問，導師，指導者

　　19.back down放棄原來的主張

　　20.gaily adv.花哨地

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