My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body. Through the years I would guess at what I thought was the correct answer.

從前我母親經常問我，身體最重要的部位是什么。許多年來，我一直以為自己所想的是正確答案。

When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, "My ears, Mommy."

當我很小的時候，我認為對人類而言，聲音很重要，因此回答：“媽咪，是耳朵?！?/p>

She said, "No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon."

她說：“不對，有許多人是聾人。但是你繼續想，不久我會再問你?！?/p>

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time I told her, "Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes."

當她再度問我時，已經是好幾年后了。自從第一次回答之后，我就一直仔細的思考正確答案。所以這次我對她說：“媽咪，視覺對每個人都很重要，所以應該是我們的眼睛?！?/p>

She looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind."

她看著我，對我說：“你學的很快，但還是不對，因為有許多人是盲人?！?/p>

Over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No, but you are getting smarter every year, my child."

往后的年日里她又問了我幾次，但她總是回答：“不對，可是孩子啊，你每年都有進步喔?！?/p>

Then last year, my Grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to Grandpa. She asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?"

去年我祖父去世，每個人都很傷心，大家都哭了。輪到我們向爺爺做最后的告別時，媽媽看著我，問我：“寶貝，你知道身體最重要的部位了嗎?”

I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. She saw the confusion on my face and told me, "This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived your life." I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder."

她在這時候問我這個問題，令我嚇了一大跳。我一直以為這只是我和她之間的游戲。她看我一臉迷惑的樣子，對我說：“這問題很重要，它是你真正理解生活的標志?！蔽铱此劬锍溆鴾I水，她說：“寶貝，最重要的部位是你的肩膀。”

I asked, "Is it because it holds up your head?"

我問：“是因為它能支撐腦袋嗎?”

She replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will have a shoulder to cry on when you need it."

她回答說：“不，是因為讓我們的朋友、我們所愛的人哭泣的時候，它可以給予依靠。寶貝，每個人在一生中都會有需要一個可以靠著哭泣的肩膀的時候。我只是希望當你需要時，會有足夠的愛人和朋友，給你一個可倚靠哭泣的肩膀?！?/p>

Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is sympathetic to the pain of others.

從那時起，我知道身體最重要的部位不是利己的部位，而是對別人的痛苦能感同身受的部位。