What could be more beautiful than the mountains of Switzerland in the springtime? I want to tell you a story about three children who live in a village high in these mountains. You know, sometimes these mountains can surprise you. Icy winds and freezing rains can appear and disappear without warning. And last night, three little puppies died in just such a storm. And that's where our story begins. nearly every day Heidi, Peter and Hans would go high into the meadows to visit Heidi and Peter's grandfather a famous woodcarver but this morning grandfather had some very bad news about the puppies in Ticker their mother we're too late what? Ticker's dead dead? pneumonia's a bad thing Peter. She was just too weak to hang on. And her puppies? They were all out in the very bad storm, in the wet and the cold. They all died, Peter. All except... It's Quigley! Mom, Quigley! Why did ours have to die? We should be happy for Peter. I'm happy for him. You're a brave girl, Heidi. Hans was right. It was a sad thing that his puppy had died. But instead of being happy for Peter that Quigley had lived, jealousy and resentment began to grow in Hans' heart and almost before he knew it he began to say and do things that were mean, unkind What do you want? How come you didn't stay for your woodcarving lesson? I didn't feel like it Grandpa's a good teacher Well, he's your grandfather, not mine But he likes you Yeah, he likes you, Hans We're sorry about your puppy but mine died too You can blow off quickly any time you like You talk too much What's gotten into you? You leave my brother alone You can tell your father The next time he wants someone to walk you up the mountain He can find someone else That Hans is asking for a bloody nose I don't think I'm big enough to do that Not you, Gator me! In Switzerland, there are many colorful festivals. and at this particular one an announcement was made. There would be a big wood carving contest held for all the children of the village. Now Peter and Heidi's grandfather was an excellent teacher and Hans had learned much from him. But the boy's anger and resentment had cut him off from the very friends who could help him. So he set off looking for another teacher. After all he couldn't possibly go back to grandfather now. But he also knew if he were to have any hopes of winning he would need a lot more training But look as he might none could be found Spring turned to summer. Biza children continued to play and Quigley continued to grow. Heidi was so busy helping her father on the farm, the incident with Hans was nearly forgotten. But Hans, his bitterness and jealousy only grew worse And eventually those very feelings led him to form a plan Me and Quigley come here every day Good for you and Quigley That Quigley sure is a cute pup It'd be a shame if he fell over that cliff Quickly, you won't fall well, you boy. Mind if I hold him? Quickly, you go to Hans and be a good dog. See, he likes you, Hans. Hans, what are you doing? Come on. Give me that high dog. Give me my dog. Hans, what are you doing? I think Quigley's afraid of heights. Please, Hans, don't hurt Quigley, don't. Poor Quigley, he's afraid of heights. Give me my dust. Give me my dust. Peter! Peter, Peter! Peter! Peter! Peter is going to be fine. He has some deep scratches and bad bruises. Peter would survive. Though it would take weeks, even months, for him to regain the use of his legs. And even at that, no one was quite certain if he'd ever fully recovered. And Heidi? Even though she was a Christian and knew God wanted her to forgive Hans, hate and resentment began to fill her own little heart. And eventually, she went to Grandfather, hoping she could find a sympathetic ear. But I hate Hans. Now, now, now, wait a minute. Hating Hans will not change what has happened. Quigley's dead. Peter can't walk. I hate him. Oh, Heidi. When you hate, it only ends up hurting you. And poor Hans. He hadn't meant to hurt Peter, or even Quigley for that matter. He just wanted to give him a good scare. But now? Now Hans held more guilt and pain than a boy his age could possibly carry. Meanwhile, Grandfather spoke with Heidi, carefully explaining how, as a Christian, Jesus wanted her to forgive Hans, to show him love, compassion. I've got compassion. Just let me punch on once in the nose I Heidi I sorry but that the way I feel Heidi You received Jesus into your heart. I remember because you sat on my lap right here at my workbench. And you looked up at me. And in your eyes there was such wonderment and anticipation. And now, instead of handling this problem Jesus' way, You want to handle it in your own way. I'm sorry. I don't want to be a grandpa. Now, you better run along. Your dad and Aunt Gretchen will wonder where you are. What are you doing here? I came to talk to your grandfather. Oh, Heidi. Hans. You know, Hans, our lives are like this carving. we stand before God like a rough piece of wood just waiting for him to do something special with us here, let's work on the head and when we take Jesus Christ into our hearts his love fills us and shapes us and teaches us God, the master carver wants to shape you. He wants to smooth out the rough edges. Only you'll have to let him. Because God's love, like the woodcarver's chisel, will shape you into something beautiful. God loves me that much? So much that he gave his only son, Jesus, who shed his blood and died on the cross so that your sins and my sins might be forgiven. And then he rose from the dead to give us new life. All we have to do is ask him for it. Thank you, Grandfather. But what about Heidi? You see, she knew that Jesus wanted to shape and form her life too. But the question was, would she really let him? Later that afternoon, she had a long talk with her father. After what he said about grandfather and what he did to Peter and Quigley. Did you hurt him? Yes, I think so. Now do you feel better? No. That's why Jesus said, love even your enemies. Because hating them does not make us feel better. hating only makes things worse. It was a long, fierce battle raging inside her heart. Part of her wanted to keep on hating and yet there was another part of her the part that knew what Jesus wanted. Now go ahead and I'll catch you, okay? I remember what I said, easy. Come on. Finally, the day of the woodcarving contest arrived, and it would be a day of many changes. Hans! Oh, it's good to see you again. Hans, it's beautiful. It was you who guided my hands And very talented hands they are too A few weeks ago these hands held a little puppy over a cliff and I know. I know. Why, Grandfather, did I do such a terrible thing? When anger or hatred or jealousy controls our lives, there's no room for God's love. But when Jesus controls us, when he is shaping what we do. I want Jesus to control my life. But he can't control your life until you ask him to come in and forgive you of your sins. I want to do this too. Will you help me? Oh, Hans, of course I'll help you. Here, sit down. And I tell you what, why don't you just pray after me? thank you that you gave your son jesus thank you that you gave your son jesus to die on the cross for my sins to die on the cross for my sins i am sorry for the wrong i have done i'm sorry for all the wrong i have done please forgive me please forgive me come into my heart and be my Savior. Come into my heart and be my Savior. Also, please control my life and shape it into something good. Also, please control my life and shape it into something good. In Jesus' name, Amen. In Jesus' name, Amen. Now, you go down there and win that contest. The new day brought another change as well. It had been a long, hard battle for Heidi, but at last she knew what she must do. And later that morning, she set off to do it. Grandfather! Hans, there's Heidi. Oh, no. Oh, no. Everything's going to be just fine. Heidi! I'm sorry, Heidi. for everything. I'm sorry, too. Yes, it had been a great day of change for both of them. Heidi had learned the freedom and joy of obeying Jesus and doing whatever he asks. And Hans, not only had he invited Jesus into his heart so he could be forgiven, but also that he, too, could begin to learn the freedom and joy of obeying him. Now hurry up. Scoot, you two. Hurry up. At last, summer was coming to an end. And you know something? Hans did win that contest. And do you know what he did with the prize money? He bought a little dog and gave it to Peter. And Peter? Yes, God answered the prayers of the children. Peter recovered completely, and the three became very good friends. But their best friend, their best friend of all, was Jesus. Be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you. you
0