Not long ago, my daughter’s shoes were scratched with a knife. She burst into tears. I took them to the shoemaker’s.
　　The young apprentice glanced at the opening and said, “Nothing I can do except replace the upper.”
　　His master looked at them and said, “If you trust me, I will add more scratches on both shoes.”
　　I was confused and asked why.
　　He explained, “As if the opening were made on purpose for a special style.”
　　I didn’t fully understand him, but I decided to leave the shoes.
　　Two days later I dropped by from work to collect the shoes. I found more scratches on each shoe, but all the openings were patched with soft red leather, and the stitches were twisted with the appearance looking more lovely and interesting than ever. I couldn’t help praising the master’s skill.
　　Another time, my sister’s blouse was torn, leaving a large opening. My wife checked it carefully, and then said, “Let me take it home and mend it.”
　　Three days later, seeing it again, I was greatly surprised: all the torn parts took on a look of ice crystal, and attached to it was a snowman made of flowery rags. I sighed with praise, “It’s amazing.”
　　“I was inspired by the shoemaker. Patches are supposed to be ugly, but a skillful craftsman can make it take on a kind of perfection,” replied my wife.
　　Her words inspired me more: perfection is impossible in life; patches appear in the form of injury, disability or disease. Since you can’t change the existence of the wound, you should not expect people’s sympathy by disclosing the wound, which is meaningless. Just sew the wound by patches and produce a most beautiful flower on it, and that is the significance of life.
　　
　　不久前,我女儿的鞋子被小刀划破了,她气得直哭,于是我把鞋子带到鞋匠那里。
　　小学徒看了一眼裂口说:“没有别的办法,只能把鞋面换掉。”
　　他的师傅看了看说:“如果你信得过我,我会在两只鞋子上再添上几道划痕。”
　　我一下子被弄糊涂了,就问为什么。
　　他解释说:“上边的口子好像是为了形成一种特殊的式样存心拉的。”
　　我不能完全理解他的意思,但还是决定将鞋子留在店里。
　　过了两天,我下班后顺路去拿鞋子。发现每只鞋上都添了更多的划痕, 不过所有的口子都用红色软皮革补上了;还有针脚歪歪扭扭的,看上去比平常的更加俏皮有趣。我禁不住对师傅的手艺赞不绝口。
　　还有一次,我姐姐的罩衫扯坏了,留下一个大洞。我妻子仔细检查了一下说:“让我拿回家补一补。”
　　三天后,再看见那件衣服时,我感到非常惊讶:所有撕坏的部位都呈现出冰晶的图案,还缀上一个用碎花布缝制的小雪人。我赞叹说: “太不可思议。”
　　“我是受了鞋匠的启发。按理说,补丁是难看的,但是能工巧匠能让它显得十全十美。”我的妻子回答说。
　　她的对我启发更大: 生活中不可能达到十全十美; 补丁往往以伤痛、残疾或疾病的形式出现。既然你不能改变创伤存在的事实,那么你不应该展示创伤以博得他人的同情,那样做毫无意义。还是用补丁缝合创伤,而且在上边绣出一朵美丽无比的花吧,这才是生活的意义所在。