Darcy, the daughter of my brother, is a sweet child. She always wishes to _______ others. She is three years old now and she is of course very _______ of her little elder cousin Jo-Jo.

Recently the two girls were _______ in the bedroom together. Suddenly, Darcy ran out of the bedroom with a burning look of _______, saying, “Jo-Jo hit me in the _______.” And I could see that she had a red place on her very pale cheek. _______, Jo-Jo followed her saying, “I did not do _______. Darcy knocked her head on me and I knew she did _______ to do it.”

I love both little girls, but I knew Darcy did not do it _______. She just felt so excited that she knocked her head on Jo-Jo’s nose ________. For Jo-Jo, the sudden ________ made her get very angry and I knew Darcy had hit her without ________. We had a little talk about it and Jo-Jo ________ admitted that she had ________ her hand and hit on Darcy’s cheek. I asked her to say “sorry” to Darcy because she had hit Darcy on the cheek. She ________ and said, “No. I did not do anything.” Then to everyone’s ________, Darcy said, “Jo-Jo, I am sorry that my cheek hit your hand.” I have never seen anybody ________situations like this any better.

Luckily, we did not make a storm in a teacup about it right then, but a few days later we had a little ________ with Jo-Jo about ________ the anger that she often shows out suddenly. And I’ve suffered a lot from the same problem in my life. But in our daily life, it is much ________ to identify (感同身受) with Jo-Jo’s angry behavior than with the amazing kindness of little Darcy. But, Jo-Jo will perhaps have a hard way to go in life while little Darcy will go through her life happily in her future.

Today was Saturday. I went to the shopping center to do a few things before I return to ________ next week. I was packing my foods, drinks and other ________ into my car when a gentleman came over and ________ me a half a bag of oranges, and he was so ________ spoken I had to lean in to hear him.

He said, “I don’t want to ________ them, and I will only eat half a bag. Please take the ________ and enjoy them.”

I didn’t know what to do. I offered him the roast chicken I had ________ to make lunch, but he refused. I offered him the bananas I had, and he smiled and refused, ________ he just wanted me to have them, and then he turned and ________.

I was surprised by his offer and ________ it with a huge thank you, not for the oranges but for approaching me and not wanting anything in return. It isn’t about the product. It was an unexpected gesture truly ________ nothing in return.

I honestly had tears in my eyes. I know how ________ the offer is, but I also appreciated this man and those oranges so much, as a ________ that kindness does exist and ________ are everywhere for us to show this behavior.

Thanks to the man with the half a bag of oranges, you have done more for me than you could ever ________ it.

My son, Ben, died when he was 23. He likes hiking and was always feeling most at home when he was ______ . The year after his death, I hiked 48 of the state's tallest mountains in his ______ . Every step, path and summit has been a way to ______.

About a month after his death, my husband and I hiked Carter Dome, ______ weighing heavy in our hearts and legs. Standing on the summit, I looked out across the mountains my son ______ . For a moment, the enormous impact of Ben's death ______, and I could breathe.

The next weekend found us on Mount Milwaukee. Hiking the four-kilometer mountains became a series of firsts, of struggles and ______   them ——directing positions at night, finding paths and planning ______ . At last, I hiked my 48th and the ______ peak: Mount Carrigain. As I stood on the observation platform at the summit, I found the essential truth I had been trying to ______ for months: the only place that feels vast enough to ______ such deep and wide sadness is the top of a mountain: Eventually, the day came and I felt much better.

These days, I hike not to hide; but to ______ . I find Ben, but also find myself: someone ______ , now regenerating into someone who is braver and ______ . Hiking is exhausting as well as ______, and it teaches us that sadness and joy can coexist.