I was eleven years old standing outside in just my underwear while I watched the house that I grew up in rapidly burn to the ground.
A few minutes earlier I had been in bed when a scream woke me up. My grandma's bedroom was just next to mine and my elder brother's. A fire had broken out there and awakened her. Hearing her scream, my elder brother jumped to action, running from room to room quickly to wake everyone in the house. However, before we could do anything, the fire had consumed (烧毁) the old and wooden house.
I stood there shivering (颤抖) while the fire destroyed my books, clothes, and toys. I watched helplessly while my Mom cried and my Dad sighed. I wondered what was going to happen to us now that we had lost all of our things. As I looked around, though, I realized something for the first time: What matters aren't things. I saw my elder brother running across the swinging (摇摆的) bridge by our house to get help. I saw my eldest brother who was on crutches (拐棍) from an earlier accident standing unsteadily on one leg. I saw my grandma and dad wrapped in each other's arms and my mum holding our little dog. I realized at that moment that we were all alive. Everything that was essential had survived the fire. Our lives would continue. We would survive without the "stuff" that was burning. We would all be around to love each other for many years to come. And that was all that mattered.
I still think of that fire at night. It helped me to become who I am today. It showed me for the very first time what is truly essential in life. It helped me to learn that the love we share is far more important than the things we possess.
Live your life then for the things that matter, not for the things you own. Love others. Let the fire inside of you make this world a warmer place. Let your soul shine bright.
