Graduation day is one of the most important milestones in many peopled lives.

Timothy was _________ to make some money before officially graduating from high school, so he _________ a job. About a week before his graduation ceremony, Timothy asked his manager Cedric for the day off. _________, on graduation day, Cedric was _________ when Timothy showed up for his shift anyway. Timothy _________ that he couldn’t get a _________ across town.

Cedric and the other employees _________ formed a plan to get Timothy to his graduation no matter what! The _________ made a list of what needed to be done to get Timothy there and divided it all up. Once they had _________ what they needed, everyone took turns helping Timothy until he felt like Cinderella (灰姑娘) __________ the ball! An employee, Shantana, __________ Timothy to the ceremony, patiently __________ outside the whole time until he was finished taking pictures and celebrating with his friends.

Cedric said they were happy to __________ Timothy because he’s a good kid — and because it was the right thing to do! Their wonderful __________ even inspired Lawson State Community College to offer Timothy free tuition and books if he wants to continue his education beyond high school!

Kindness truly made an unforgettable __________ on this young man’s life.

I had a busy to - do list today and was about to get started when my sister called.

I talked with her for a short time and could _________ my seven - year - old niece (侄女，外甥女) in the background, full of energy as always, and getting blamed for something. I _________ to speak with her, both because I love talking to her and because I was _________ that I could help redirecting (使改变方向) some of her energy in a more _________ direction and give my sister a break.

I listened and talked with her on the phone, giving her as much _________ as she needed to share her thoughts and _________ herself.

The conversation went for quite a while. _________ my time, she gifted me her funny stories and sense of _________. She said the cutest things that always _________ me and caused me to laugh out loud! She told me about her friend’s birthday party, which __________ a cake, chocolate ice cream, and sand art! Then there were __________ about her new little brother, cute animals she saw recently and of course, the weather!

Forty minutes later she __________, saying, “Well, I should __________ have let you get going.”

At one point in the conversation my __________ had turned back to my “to - do” list, but then I consciously (有意识地) turned it back to her. I chose to be __________ with her and give my full attention to her so that she __________ important and special. __________, she is indeed important and special. Children are so precious (宝贵的) and __________ so fast! And we can learn so much from them, including the __________ they see the world. When choosing between my niece and my to - do list, I __________ that chores and errands (差事) could wait — every time!