GIFTS OF THE HEART.docVIP

GIFTS OF THE HEART 　　According to legend， a young man while roaming the desert came across a spring of delicious， clean water. The water was so sweet， and he filled his leather canteen so he could bring some back to a tribal elder who had been his teacher. 　　After a four-day journey he presented the water to the old man who took a deep drink， smiled warmly and thanked his student for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart. 　　Later， the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out， saying it was awful. It apparently had become stale because of the old leather container. 　　The student challenged his teacher， “Master， the water was stale. Why did you pretend to like it？” 　　The teacher replied， “You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of loving-kindness and nothing could be sweeter.” 　　Most people value only the thing given rather than the feeling embodied in it. We should remind ourselves about the beauty and purity of feelings and expressions of gratitude. After all， gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart. 　　According to the passage， how should we respond when we get gifts from friends？ 　　A. Describe the gifts in detail and politely refuse them. 　　B. Tell them not to waste money on gifts. 　　C. Say thanks if you really like the gifts. 　　D. Express your gratitude for their feelings embodied in the gifts.