完形填空

Loving Kindness Is Twice Blessed

　　I felt gloomy(沮丧的)the other day．The weather had been dark and rainy, and I just didn't feel so 　　1　　．

　　As I was sitting at my desk, I 　　2　　 it was the birthday of a dear long-time friend－a single, middle-aged woman who has devoted the past 30 years to nursing and loves her 　　3　　．

　　Knowing that she doesn't have family in town, I 　　4　　 to give her a call．Sure enough, she was on B-shift, 　　5　　 to work late into the evening, and wouldn't have 　　6　　 of a birthday this year．As always, 　　7　　, she sounded cheerful and was happy that I 　　8　　．

　　After I hung up, I couldn't 　　9　　 the feeling that she would really appreciate a little attention on her special day．　　10　　 feeling a little gloomy myself, I tried to put it out of my mind, but as the day passed I couldn't shake the thought．I 　　11　　 gave in, and that evening set off to the hospital with a card, a cheese cake, and some balloons．My friend's grateful smile and joyful surprise 　　12　　 me I'd done the right thing and were a generous 　　13　　 for the little effort it had taken．

　　When I got home, I realized that not only had I cheered up a 　　14　　 friend on her birthday, but my own gloomy feelings had also disappeared．Making her day had 　　15　　 my own!

　　Isn't that the way it is 　　16　　 we take the time and make the 　　17　　 to do something for someone else?It's like the little saying, "Loving kindness is twice blessed; it blesses him who gives, and him who 　　18　　．"

　　Cheering up people on their birthdays isn't the only thing we can do to make their day．Life constantly presents us with 　　19　　 to take an extra step or do a kind deed that will make a difference to 　　20　　．And the wonderful thing is that as we do, it changes things for the better for us too．