Heidi is a young girl who goes to live with her Grandfather on the Alm in Switzerland after her mother and father die. She falls in love with the beauty of the mountains, the simple life and the people she befriends. Sadly, after a short time, her aunt takes her away from the mountains to Frankfurt to be a companion for a crippled girl, Klara. Heidi tries to make the best of the situation, but is heart broken.
Heidi lives with this family for a couple of years. She become friends with Klara, learns how to read and about the power of prayer from Klara's grandmamma, and gains the trust of Klara's father and the doctor. Even with these good things happening, Heidi is homesick for the Alm. She begins to loose weight and starts sleepwalking. Finally the doctor realizes what is happening and encourages the father to send Heidi home.
Heidi is so excited to return to the mountains. On her return journey she remembers every detail. I fear that it won't be as she remembers and she'll be disappointed, but my fear is unfounded, for all is the same.
Shortly after her return, good things start to happen; all as a result of Heidi's time in Frankfurt. The people from the local village start to see the Grandfather in a new light due to Heidi's return. Heidi is able to read to and comfort the grandmother (a neighbor on the Alm). She is also able to teach Peter the goatherd how to read. Good things continue to happen. Heidi's friends from Frankfurt visit and help the grandmother and Peter the goatherd with money and food and a new bed. The fresh mountain air and goat's milk are a miracle cure for Klara and she regains the ability to walk. Heidi realizes that all these good things are happening becuase of her time in Frankfurt and the people that she knew there.
How many times to we go through trials (bad things) and recieve blessings (good things) as a result? It reminds me of the scripture found in Ether 12:27: "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Often, but not always, the bad things that happen in our lives are becuase of our weaknesses, but, through faith and humility, they can be turned into blessings. A weakness of mine is that I like to take the easy way out. If something is too hard, I won't do it or I'll do it as simply as possible. Recently I've had to step out of that comfort box and force myself to do hard things. I have yet to see the full blessings from this, but I'm begining to see small changes in myself and in my family. It's something I need to say everyday--"I CAN DO HARD THINGS!"
