7-year-old Tommy Wilkinson’s childish desires got the best of him. He envied his best friend Eric over his new fancy bicycle. One day, Tommy gathered the courage to demand the bicycle. His parents refused him. But his dad, Peter Wilkinson, made a suggestion: “You can get the bike if you save up for it.” Without a second thought, Tommy decided to set aside money from his allowance (零花钱) every day to raise the amount he needed: $600. Every day, the little boy made sure he placed some money into his piggy bank.

After almost two years, the day finally arrived. “Finally!” Tommy joyfully shouted as he dropped the piggy bank to the floor. Inside was $830! More than the $600 he was aiming for! Instantly, the excited boy asked his dad to take him to the bike store.

On their way to the store, Tommy accompanied his dad to the supermarket to buy some groceries. They were lining up at the checkout when Tommy noticed an old woman with a little girt in a wheelchair. The old lady dropped her groceries on the road. She looked helpless, and since she was holding the little girl’s wheelchair, she couldn’t pick them up.

Tommy quickly approached the woman. “Hey, let me help you. Where is your car?” he asked the woman whose name was Barbara. The woman told him that they lived across the street and didn’t have a car. “I’ll carry them for you,” Tommy said. On the way, the woman’s granddaughter, Chloe, told Tommy their story. It turned out Chloe injured her leg in a car crash, and her parents died in it. Barbara had to sell her car to pay for Chloe’s surgery and wheelchair. Their story moved Tommy.

After arriving at Barbara’s house, Tommy made an unbelievable offer. “I’ll get you a car!” he shouted with joy. “Not a new one, though. My dad sells used cars and I’ll get you one!” Tommy’s offer really shocked Barbara. “But I don’t think I can afford a car now,” she said.

“Don’t worry! My dad will help you get one. I promise!” Tommy said firmly.

Peter was surprised that Tommy would offer to give all his savings to help Barbara.

In a big city lived a girl named Amy. She was a clever and lively child, but her heart was often clouded by dissatisfaction. Whenever she saw other children playing with new dolls or dressed in fancy outfits, Amy’s eyes would sparkle with envy and she wished she had them too.

So she always asked her mother, “Mom, can I have this?” or “Mom, can I have that?” If her mom didn’t satisfy her need, Amy would respond with endless complaints or tears. She didn’t understand why she couldn’t possess what she desired.

Her mother, a wise and loving woman, tried to reason with Amy. She explained that Amy already had so many toys and clothes. She said, “Amy, you’re lucky to have so much. Learn to be happy with what you have.” But Amy’s ears were deaf to her mother’s words. She could only see what she lacked, and her heart remained heavy with dissatisfaction.

Amy’s discontentment affected her social life at high school. Her bad temper and constant complaints about what she lacked made it difficult for her to make friends. When Amy saw her desk mate Lily using new stationery (文具), she immediately said, “I have better ones.” Once, hearing some girls talking about their new dresses, she interrupted rudely, “My mom will buy me the same one, even nicer.” Other kids couldn’t bear her attitude and kept away from her gradually, which made Amy feel more lonely and unhappy.

When Amy told her mother the “unfair treatment” she faced at school, her mother was deeply concerned about her. She knew that Amy’s constant dissatisfaction was not appropriate and would eventually ruin her happiness completely. “Something must be done.” she thought. After deep consideration, she decided to take a different approach. One day, she invited Amy to join her in volunteering at a local charity that helped the children there in need. Initially, Amy refused, but her mother’s determined attitude persuaded her successfully.

As they arrived at the charity, Amy’s eyes were opened to a world she had never known.

That voluntary experience and the conversation with the children changed Amy’s life.