if we are to meet our Heavenly Father's high expectations.

才能達成天父對我們的期待。

It is this:

重點在於：

willingly to accept and even seek corrections.

接受天父為你量身訂做的生命修剪和尋求天國的真理。

Elder Hugh B. Brown told of purchasing a rundown farm in Canada many years ago.

老布朗先生(Elder Hugh B. Brown)在幾年前買了一座在加拿大荒廢已久的農場

As he went about cleaning up and repairing his property

當他正在清潔處理和修整他的新地時

he came across a currant bush

他看見了一顆醋栗樹叢

that had grown over six feet high

長到了六尺那麼高

and was yielding no berries.

但卻沒有結出任何果子

So he pruned it back drastically

所以老布朗就將醋栗樹叢大修剪了一番

leaving only small stumps.

只留下了禿禿的樹樁

Then he saw a drop, like a tear, on the top of each of these little stumps

接著他看到了好像眼淚般的水滴，從這些禿禿的樹樁上流出

as if the currant bush were crying

就像醋栗樹在哭一樣

and thought he heard it say,

然後，從醋栗樹傳來一個聲音：

"How could you do this to me?

「你怎麼可以這樣對我？

I was making such wonderful growth, and now you've cut me down.

我好不容易長得這麼高，但你卻狠心把我砍下

Every plant in the garden will look down on me.

現在花園裡的所有植物都會嘲笑我，

How could you do this to me?

你怎麼可以這樣對我？

I thought you were the gardener here."

我還以為你是個很棒的園丁。」

"Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here,

「嗨醋栗樹，我是這裡的園丁沒錯

and I know what I want you to be.

而且我知道怎麼樣修剪對你的生命是最棒的，

I don't intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush.

你就是你，一顆醋栗樹，你既不是一般的果樹，也不是專門讓人乘涼的大樹，

And someday, little currant bush, when you're laden with fruit,

而當你結實累累的那天，

you're going to say, "Thank you, mister gardener,

你會說：『園丁，謝謝你，

for loving me enough to cut me down."

謝謝你為了讓我成長成熟，修剪了我的生命。』」

Years later Elder Brown was in line to be promoted to general,

幾年後，老布朗被提名為晉升將軍的候選人之一，

but even though he was fully qualified for the promotion

但即便他符合所有的條件資格，

it was denied him because he was a Mormon.

卻因為他是摩門教徒而駁回他的升遷

Continuing his story Elder Brown remembered,

故事接著下去，老布朗先生回憶著當時.....

I got on the train and started back with a broken heart,

我帶著一顆受傷破碎的心坐上火車

with bitterness in my soul.

內心充滿了苦澀和難過

When I got to my tent I threw my cap on the cot.

當一進到帳篷，我生氣地將我的帽子甩在床上

I clenched my fists and I shook them at heaven.

我拳頭緊握著向著天憤怒的揮舞著

I said, "How could you do this to me, God?

我說「上帝，祢怎麼可以這樣對我？

I've done everything I could to measure up.

我所為祢做的一切難道你都數算不出來嗎？

How could you do this to me?"

祢怎麼可以這樣對我？」

And then I heard a voice. It was my own voice.

接著，我聽到一個聲音。那是我自己的聲音

And the voice said, "I am the gardener here.

聲音傳來說：「我是你的園丁，

I know what I want you to do."

我知道該怎麼做才能成就對你的美好計畫。」

The bitterness went out of my soul,

奇妙地，那苦毒的情緒消失了

and I fell on my knees by the cot to ask forgiveness

我雙膝跪在床邊，向上帝悔改認錯

for my ungratefulness.

請求上帝的寬恕

And now almost fifty years later I look up to God and say,

直到現在，已經50多年過去，每當我看著天空，

"Thank you, Mister Gardener,

我總會說：「謝謝祢，園丁先生，

for cutting me down,

謝謝祢修剪我的生命，

for loving me enough to hurt me."

謝謝祢因為愛我，所以幫助我成熟茁壯。」

All of us

我們每一個人

can meet God's high expectations,

都可以達到天父對我們的期望。

however great or small our capacity and talent may be.

神揀選了世上愚笨的，也揀選了世上軟弱的，並能夠使你剛強壯膽的向前

Let us pray for His

讓我們一起禱告並感謝

love-inspired correction.

高舉讚美神充滿智慧的修剪我們的生命

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

這樣禱告是奉耶穌基督的名，阿們。