Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God， “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?”

God replied， “Among the many angels， I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you.”

But the child wasn't sure he really wanted to go. “But tell me， here in Heaven， I don't do anything else but sing and smile， that's enough for me to be happy.”

“Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel's love and be happy.”

“And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me，” the child continued， “If I don't know the language that men talk?”

God patted him on the head and said， “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear， and with much patience and care， your angel will teach you how to speak.”

“And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?”

But God had an answer for that question too. “Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.”

“I've heard that on earth there are bad men， who will protect me?”

“Your angel will defend you even if it means risking her life!”

“But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore，” the child continued warily.

God smiled on the young one. “Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me， even though I will always be next to you.”

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven， but voices from earth could already be heard. The child knew he had to start on his journey very soon. He asked God one more question， softly， “Oh God， if I am about to leave now， please tell me my angel's name.”

God touched the child on the shoulder and answered， “Your angel's name is not hard to remember. You will simply call her Mommy.”

譯文:

從前，有個(gè)孩子馬上就要誕生了。因此有一天他問(wèn)上帝：“聽說(shuō)明天你就送我去人間了，但是，我這么弱小和無(wú)助，我在那兒怎么生活呢？”

上帝答道：“在眾多的天使中，我特別為你挑了一位。她會(huì)守候你、無(wú)微不至地照顧你。”

小孩還是拿不準(zhǔn)自己是否真的想去?！暗窃谔焯?，我除了唱唱笑笑外，什么也不做。這就足以讓我感到幸福了?！?/p>

“你的天使每天會(huì)為你唱歌，為你微笑。你會(huì)感受她的愛，并且因此而幸福?！?/p>

“如果我不懂人類的語(yǔ)言，他們對(duì)我說(shuō)話時(shí)，我怎么聽得懂呢？”孩子繼續(xù)問(wèn)道。

上帝輕輕地拍了一下孩子的腦袋說(shuō)：“你的天使會(huì)對(duì)你說(shuō)最最美麗、最最動(dòng)聽的話語(yǔ)，而這些都是你從未聽過(guò)的。她會(huì)不厭其煩地教你說(shuō)話?！?/p>

“如果我想與你說(shuō)話怎么辦？”

上帝胸有成竹地回答：“你的天使會(huì)將你的雙手合攏，教你如何祈禱。”

“聽說(shuō)塵世有很多壞蛋，誰(shuí)來(lái)保護(hù)我呢？”

“即使冒著生命危險(xiǎn)，你的天使也會(huì)保護(hù)你的?！?/p>

“但是見不到你，我會(huì)難過(guò)的?！毙『⑿⌒囊硪淼卣f(shuō)道。

聽到這兒，上帝對(duì)著小孩笑了?！氨M管我會(huì)一直陪伴你左右，你的天使仍會(huì)提起我，教你重返天堂之路?！?/p>

此時(shí)，天堂一片寧?kù)o，凡間的聲音已可聽到，小孩明白自己得趕緊上路了。他又輕聲問(wèn)了最后一個(gè)問(wèn)題，“哦，上帝，我現(xiàn)在就要出發(fā)，請(qǐng)你告訴我，我的天使叫什么名字?！?/p>

上帝把手放在小孩的肩上，答道：“你的天使的名字很容易記住，你就叫她——媽媽?！?/p>

（摘自《英語(yǔ)文摘》）