It was two weeks before the New Year and my heart was full of gratitude. I had been employed at my new job for two months and I _________it. One day, I walked through the door of the tall golden building _________. Then a friend of mine took me to a corner. “People are being laid off,” she _________. “Oh, I’m sure you’ll be _________, though. They just hired you.”

At 10: 28 a. m., Henry, the hiring manager, called me to his office. He handed me some _________to sign and then tried to _________that the order came from the head office. I _________as he explained. “I really appreciate that you hired me two months ago. I love this job. Thank you so much,” I said. Relieved, Henry rubbed (揉) his face and said, “The one thing I did not _________to hear today was ‘thank you’.”

That night, as I pulled my _________out of my purse, I noticed I had a voice mail. I listened to the message and couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Emma, the hiring manager of a different company, said that I was highly recommended by my __________ manager. They said they had a(n) __________that was perfect for me. Finally, she added, “Henry asked me to convey a message to you: Anyone who can be so __________as he is leaving a job should have a chance to find another job!”

I had always __________“thank you” as little gifts that I could give to others to brighten their days, gifts that were never returned. __________, the day I was hired to a new job just __________after being laid off, I knew that my gift of gratitude returned to me.

On one of those perfectly sunny grandma babysitting days, we set off to play in a nearby park. Kids were ________ the merry-go-round (旋转木马) and the swings. But what ________ my four-year-old grandson was the tennis court (球场).

Two kids were riding their bikes in and out of the lines on the newly finished court. Their parents sat on a bench just inside the gated entrance. The kids laughed as they ________ each other.

A sign was clearly posted on the entrance—No ________ Allowed.

Just beginning his reading lesson, my grandson already know the word “No”. He asked me what ________ came next. I told him that the sign asked people not to ride bikes on the tennis court. He was just four years old, ________ he could clearly see two kids riding their bikes, which shouldn’t be ________.

We watched for a little while and then he walked up to open the gate. I thought that he wanted to watch the kids more clearly. ________ he walked straight over to the couple and asked if they ________ what the sign said. Oh, what a ________ four-year-old! The man gave me an unfriendly ________ and then said coldly that it didn’t matter.

I led my grandson away from the tennis court and told him that sometimes people don’t like ________ rules.

By now, those kids are probably in middle school. What they ________ on that tennis court could have an influence on their lives today. I wonder whether those parents will care if their kids think that some ________ don’t matter. How about speed limits when they drive, or cheating on a test? Sometimes it’s the ________ things that matter the most.

After going through a severe illness, you learn to know what love, faith and beauty really are.

I know this all too well, because I’ve experienced a ________ illness myself. Years ago, I was diagnosed with both breast and liver cancer at the same time, and my entire outlook on life completely ________. I thought I had it rough after having to raise my daughter alone, but going through cancer made my ________ years seem like heaven. When you suffer from a serious illness like cancer, it makes you wonder what you did to ________ such a thing. ________, the love of my family helped me to forget my pain. Their love was the greatest reason why I had to ________ the cancer and live. At times, I didn’t think I would make it, but because of the ________ love of my family, I found out who’s there at this most ________ time of my life.

Through it all, not only did I find what love truly means, but I found what true beauty really is. Whether we’ re dealing with an illness or any other ________ feeling about ourselves, we still need to feel ________ on both the outside and inside.

Each passing day I’m allowed to open my eyes, the days are brighter, because I’m able to see and ________ it that much more. True beauty is ________ and when you feel beautiful on the inside, it shows so clearly on the outside. ________, I could not have done or felt the way I did and still do without my family.

I share my story with others as I hope to have a positive impact ________ those who are ill or just feeling ________. We should never allow anything to ________ our joy or self-esteem. We can turn something ________ like cancer into something positive if we focus on the great things that come out of it. ________, it’s at the worst times of our lives ________ the best things can happen.

I truly believe that when we survive a tragedy, it’s for a reason. We all have a purpose, and through that purpose, compassion, strength, faith and true beauty is ________.