For many years

多年来

I was treated in a very unkind¹ way.

我并没有遭受过恶意的对待

I was not only talked about behind my back

没有人在我的背后诽谤我

but I was spoken to in an unkind manner to my face.

当曾经有人当面对我用十分失礼的态度说话

I'm sure

我相信

a lot of people can relate to this.

许多人有过类似的经历

There came a time

后来

when I had the opportunity to help this person out.

我得到一个机会，可以对那个人提供帮助

For some reason,

出于某种原因

much to my surprise,

连我自己都感到惊讶的是

I chose to be kind and help.

我选择对他友善，并且帮助了他

My action to show love and help not only surprised me,我的行动表现了爱和帮助，这不仅让我吃惊

but it surprised others as well.

也让周围的其他人大吃一惊

I'm sharing this

我分享这个故事

because I can not tell you

是因为我想告诉你

how much my action set me free.

我的举动让我感到难以言喻的轻松自由

I now had the power

如今我手握重权

to treat this person the same way I had been treated对此人以其道还治其人之身

or I could be kind

我也可以选择善良

and put love into action.

用我的行动传达大爱

The choice was mine.

选择权在我手中

Love your enemies

“爱你的敌人”

and bless them that curse² you.

“祝福那些诅咒你的人”

I never really understood this maxim³

我从没有真正理解这句箴言

until I put it into practice.

直到我将它诉诸实践

Being kind and showing love did as much for me行善举，传达大爱，这对我的益处

as it did for the other person.

与对那人的益处一样多

This is a good time

这正是一个好时机

to not only show love to those who love us

不仅对爱我们的人表达爱意

but to be kind to those who have done us wrong.

也要对曾对我们有失公允的人表达善意