Growing deep and strong!

曲永華

有了往下扎根，才會有向上的結果。當一棵樹的根部漸漸往下扎時，它的樹干也漸漸長成，樹葉就茂盛起來，到了時候就會結出果實來。

by Stephen on September 20， 2012 · 9 comments in Inspiring stories

One day， my mother and I were working together in the garden where we were transplanting plants for the third time.

①Grown from seed in a small container， the plants had been transferred to a larger container; then transplanted into the garden. Now， because I was moving， we were transplanting them once again.

Inexperienced as a gardener， I turned to my green-thumbed mother. “Isn’t this bad for them？” I asked， as we ②dug them up and shook the dirt from the roots. “Won’t it hurt these plants， being uprooted and transplanted so many times？”

“Oh” my mother replied. “Transplanting doesn’t hurt them. In fact， ③it’s good for the ones that survive. That’s how their roots grow strong. Their roots will grow deep， and they will make strong plants”.

Often， I’ve felt like those small plants – uprooted and turned upside. Sometimes I’ve endured the change willingly， sometimes reluctantly， but usually my reaction has been a combination. Won’t this be hard on me？ I ask. Wouldn’t things be better if things remained the same？ That’s when I remember my mother’s words： That’s how the roots grow deep and strong.

扎根越深長得越壯

一天，我和媽媽一起在花園中工作，我們又一次移植那些花卉。

種子在一個小容器發芽，長大后已被轉移到一個更大的容器，然后又移植到花園里。現在，因為我要搬家，我們再次移植它們。

缺少作為園丁的經驗，我轉向精于園藝的母親。“這不是對他們不好嗎？” 我問，當我們把它們挖出來， 抖落植物根部的土壤。“這些植物難道不會毀了，被連根拔起， 而且移植這么多次？”

“哦”我媽媽說。“移植不傷害他們。事實上，那對它們的生存有好處。這使植物的根變得強壯。它們的根會向下扎得更深， 從而將使植物長得更強大”。

我經常想起那些小植物連根拔起的小植物，有時候我心甘情愿地接受這些改變，有時候又不情愿，但是通常我的反應會產生連鎖反應。我會問自己：這樣的事情發生在我身上會難受嗎？如果情況保持不變難到會更好嗎？ 我也會想起我媽媽的話： 根扎得越深，就長得更壯。

1. Grown from seed in a small container， the plants had been transferred to a larger container; then transplanted into the garden.種子在一個小容器發芽，長大后已被轉移到一個更大的容器，然后又移植到花園里。

Grown from seed in a small container， 過去分詞短語做狀語，和主語構成被動關系。

2. dig up? 挖掘，掘起

The children helped their parents to dig up potatoes. 孩子們幫他們的父母挖馬鈴薯。

When you’re weeding， you must dig up the roots. 斬草必須除根。

3. be good for 對……有好處，有益于

Swimming is good for your health.游泳對你的健康有好處。

反義詞be bad for 對……不好，有害于

Whatever the reasons for children not to eat breakfast， it can be bad for their health. 無論什么原因，孩子不吃早餐對他們的身體是有害的。