My father was【C1】_____a strong man who loved being active, but a terrible illness【C2】__all that away. Now he can no longer walk. And he must sit quietly in a chair all day. Even talking is【C3】__. One night, I went to visit him with my sisters, we started talking about life, and I told them about one of my【C4】__. I said that we must always give things up as we grow — our youth, our beauty, our friends — but it always【C5】__that after we give something up, we gain something new in its place. Then suddenly my father spoke up. He said, “But, Peter. I gave up【6】_____! What did I gain?” I thought and thought, but I could not think of anything to say.

【C7】________. he answered his own question: “I gained the love of my family.” I looked at my sisters, and saw tears in their eyes, along with hope and thankfulness.

I was also【C8】_____by his words. After that, when I began to feel irritated at someone, I would remember his words and become【C9】_____. If he could replace his great pain with a feeling of love for others, then I should be able to give up my small irritations. In this way, I learned the power of acceptance from my father.

Sometimes I【C10】________what other things I could learned from him if I had listened more carefully when I was a boy. For now, though, I am grateful for this gift.

【C5】