English Original
As a young man, Al was a skilled artist, a potter with a wife and two fine sons. One night, his older son developed a severe stomachache. Thinking it was only some common intestinal disorder, neither Al nor his wife took the condition very seriously. But the boy died suddenly that night.
Consumed by guilt, believing the death could have been avoided, Al's life unraveled. His wife left him shortly after, leaving him alone with his six-year-old younger son. Overwhelmed by grief, Al turned to alcohol for solace and in time became an alcoholic.
As his addiction worsened, Al lost everything he possessed—his land, his house, his livelihood. He died alone in a small bar. Upon hearing the news, I thought, "What a totally wasted life! What a complete failure!"
Years later, my perspective shifted. I came to know Al's now-adult son, Ernie. He is one of the kindest, most caring men I have ever known. Witnessing the love between Ernie and his own children, I wondered where such goodness originated.
Ernie seldom spoke of his father. One day, I gathered the courage to ask him what his father had done to help shape him into such a remarkable person. Ernie said quietly, "From my childhood until I left home at 18, my father came into my room every night, gave me a kiss, and said, 'Love you, son.'"
Tears filled my eyes as I realized my foolish judgment. Al had left behind no material wealth. But he had been a loving father, and he left behind a legacy of love.
中文翻译
年轻时，阿尔是位技艺精湛的艺术家，一个陶艺家，有妻子和两个好儿子。一天晚上，他的大儿子突发严重胃痛。阿尔和妻子都以为这只是常见的肠道不适，并未太当回事。然而，男孩在那晚突然去世了。
阿尔被内疚吞噬，认为这场死亡本可避免，他的生活也随之分崩离析。不久后妻子离开了他，留下他和六岁的小儿子相依为命。被悲痛压垮的阿尔转向酒精寻求慰藉，最终成了酒鬼。
随着酒瘾加深，阿尔失去了他所拥有的一切——土地、房子、生计。他最终孤独地死在一间小酒吧里。听到这个消息时，我想：“多么彻底虚度的一生！一个完全的失败者！”
多年以后，我的看法改变了。我认识了阿尔现已成年的儿子厄尼。他是我见过最善良、最有爱心的人之一。目睹厄尼和他自己孩子之间的爱，我不禁好奇这种善良源自何处。
厄尼很少谈起他的父亲。一天，我鼓起勇气问他，他的父亲究竟做了什么，帮助他成长为如此出色的人。厄尼轻声说道：“从我童年起，直到我18岁离开家，父亲每晚都会来到我的房间，给我一个吻，然后说，‘爱你，儿子。’”
泪水盈满我的眼眶，我意识到自己当初的判断是多么愚蠢。阿尔没有留下任何物质财富。但他曾是一位充满爱意的父亲，留下了一份爱的遗产。