Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born.

One day the child asked God: “They tell me you are going to send me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?”

God replied:“Among the many angels², I have chosen one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you.”

“But, “said the child: “tell me here in Heaven I don't do anything else but sing and smile. That‘s what I need to be happy!”

God said: “Your angel¹ will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel's love and be happy.”

“And,” said the child: “how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, If Idon‘t know the language that men talk?”

“That 's easy”, said God: “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.”

The child looked up at God saying: “And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?”

God smiled at the child saying: “Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.”

The child said: “I've heard on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?”

God put his arm around the child, saying: “Your angel will defend you-even if it means³ risking life!”

The child looked sad, saying: “But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.”

God hugged the child: “Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you.”

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard.

The child,in a hurry, asked softly⁴: “Oh God, if I am about to leave now. Please tell my Angel’s name!”

God replied:“Your angel's name is of no importance...you will simply call her MOMMY!”

文章大意：

很久以前，有一个小孩即将出生。

一天，这个小孩问上帝：“他们告诉我明天你就要将我送到地球了，但是我这么小又无助，在那里我要怎么生活呢？”

上帝回答说：“我已经在众多天使中选了一个给你。她会等待你的到来和照顾你。”

“但是”，小孩说：“在天堂里我除了歌唱和微笑之外什么都不做。这些都是能让我感到快乐的事！”

上帝说：“你的天使每天都会为你歌唱和微笑。你能够感受到你的天使的爱并会感到快乐。”

“还有”，小孩又问了：“如果我不懂他们的语言，当人们对我说话时我怎样才能理解呢？”

“这很简单，”上帝说：“你的天使会教你你未曾听说过的美丽和甜蜜的语言，她还会很耐心地教你说话。 ”

小孩抬头看着上帝说：“当我想和你说话时，我要怎么做呢？”

上帝微笑着对小孩说：“你的天使会将你的双手放在一起然后教你祈祷。”

小孩说：“我还听说地球上有坏人，那谁来保护我呢？”

上帝把手放在小孩身上，说：“你的天使会保护你，就算是冒着生命的危险！”

小孩看起来有些悲伤，他说：“我会一直都很伤心的因为我再也看不到你了。”

上帝抱了抱小孩，说：“你的天使会一直跟你讨论我，还会教你怎么回到我身边，即使我会一直在你的身边。”

那一刻天堂异常平静，不过已经可以听到从地球传来的声音了。

小孩急促而又温柔地问：“上帝啊，我现在就要离开了，请你告诉我我天使的名字吧！”

上帝回答：“你天使的名字并不重要，你会叫她——“妈妈”。