One winter day a storm was forecast for Portland. Of course to Bill the weather report was good news. “Perfect for a door-to-door salesman，” he said. “Everyone’s home！” So he bundled up and made his rounds until he had made his quota. But then， the buses had stopped running because the roads were so bad. He had to hitchhike home， only to discover the steep driveway leading to his front door was a sheet of ice. He tried to get up it again and again， but kept falling down. Finally he got down on his hands and knees and crawled to the front door thoroughly satisfied with his day’s work. He told me about it the next morning. It was as if the cumulative affect of working with Bill and his optimism sank in. I wanted to stop worrying about life and start enjoying it.
It’s been 20 years now that I’ve worked for Bill. Once in a while those old worries start in on me. It is then I think about my friend Bill crawling up his icy driveway. I hear him saying， “There are no obstacles， Shelly. Only challenges.” When I follow his example， I’m able to let go and feel free. Yes， Bill Porter finally got me looking forward to the opportunities God opens for us one door at a time. And these days when my family goes to the movies we see the full-priced show—and splurge on popcorn.
20年前，当我们生第一个孩子的时候，我和丈夫约翰就商量好了，我要在家里做全职妈妈，这意味着我们就得只靠他一个人的工资生活了。为了还房贷和学生贷款，我们节衣缩食。我们常以通心粉和奶酪为主食，而且再也没有去看过电影。
我们剪下商家的优惠券，并且买打折的商品。在星期二，廉价旧货店会出售“新”商品；星期三，快过期的肉类和奶类商品会半价出售；星期六，我们会赶在别人之前去买私人摆在门前要出售的商品。但是，对于这一切我早就习惯了，因为我从小就过着缺吃少穿的生活。因此为了摆脱贫困，我早就定下了实际目标，即上大学，拥有牢固的婚姻和一份事业。这些我都做到了，但是，我仍然无法想象我的生活会永远不如意。我的信仰更像是安全网，而不能成为我企盼美好生活的理由。