Heidi's Faith

Every couple of years around here it is time to once again read, or listen to an audio-book of Heidi by Johanna Spyri. Set in the stunning Swiss Alps, the author brings you in among goats grazing in flower-filled pastures in summer, takes you sliding swiftly down the mountain-side in winter, and develops unforgettable characters. This is one of those children's books that continues to be meaningful and endearing no matter how many times it is read, and no matter the age of the reader. 

If you have only seen one of the movie versions, you will have unwittingly come away with a very poor and even twisted idea of this story and its cast of characters. Please read the book to see what all you are missing!

One part of the story line that is (no surprise) misrepresented or entirely missing from the movies is the sincere faith in God that impacts not only Heidi in her time of loneliness and struggle, but is also a key factor in the character of her grandfather.

Take this excerpt, for example:

     "The grandmother called her to come close, and... said, 'Now, child, tell me why you are not happy? Have you still the same trouble at heart?'

     Heidi nodded in reply.

     'Have you told God about it?'

     'Yes.'

     'And do you pray every day that He will make things right and that you may be happy again?'

     'No, I have left off praying.'

     'Do not tell me that, Heidi! Why have you left off praying?'

     'It is of no use, God does not listen,' Heidi went on in an agitated voice, 'and I can understand that when there are so many, many people ... praying to Him every evening that He cannot attend to them all, and He certainly has not heard what I said to Him.'

     'And why are you so sure of that, Heidi?'

     'Because I have prayed for the same thing every day for weeks, and yet God has not done what I asked.'

     'You are wrong, Heidi; you must not think of Him like that. God is a good father to us all, and knows better than we do what is good for us. If we ask Him for something that is not good for us, He does not give it, but something better still, if only we will continue to pray earnestly and do not run away and lose our trust in Him. 

God did not think what you have been praying for was good for you just now; but be sure He heard you, for He can hear and see every one at the same time, because He is a God and not a human being like you and me. And because He thought it was better for you not to have at once what you wanted, He said to Himself: Yes, Heidi shall have what she asks for, but not until the right time comes, so that she may be quite happy. If I do what she wants now, and then one day she sees that it would have been better for her not to have had her own way, she will cry and say, "If only God had not given me what I asked for! it is not so good as I expected!" 

And while God is watching over you, and looking to see if you will trust Him and go on praying to Him every day, and turn to Him for everything you want, you run away and leave off saying your prayers, and forget all about Him. And when God no longer hears the voice of one He knew among those who pray to Him, He lets that person go his own way, that he may learn how foolish he is. And then this one gets into trouble, and cries, "Save me, God, for there is none other to help me," and God says, "Why did you go from Me; I could not help you when you ran away." 

And you would not like to grieve God, would you Heidi, when He only wants to be kind to you? So will you not go and ask Him to forgive you, and continue to pray and to trust Him..."

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To listen or read the whole book online or by free download, check these links:

Librivox free audiobook: https://librivox.org/heidi-by-johanna-spyri-solo/
Free e-book: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1448