Heidi Goes to the Alps

Being able to travel while living abroad has been a great blessing in my life.  I fulfilled one my dreams this past week, visiting "Heidiland" in Switzerland.  To be honest I never really liked my name and so this was a chance for me to connect with my namesake in a beautiful setting.  I find that I am more appreciative of the name that was given to me by my father who loved the childrens story "Heidi" by Johanna Spyri.  

Johanna used to spend her childhood summers in the Marienfeld area of Graubunden in the Swiss Alps.  She then used this setting for her classic novel, Heidi.  The book was first published in 1880 and is still a read children and adults all over the world.  

I have learned to love my name and to embrace what it stands for.  There are many things that can be learned from this novel and from the little girl "Heidi"  Here are some of my favorite quotes and I would like to think that I see myself in the words that were written well over 120 years ago. 


 “I'll always say my prayers...and if God doesn't answer them at once I shall know it's because He's planning something better for me.” 

“God certainly knows of some happiness for us which He is going to bring out of the trouble, only we must have patience and not run away. And then all at once something happens and we see clearly ourselves that God has had some good thought in His mind all along; but because we cannot see things beforehand, and only know how dreadfully miserable we are, we think it is always going to be so.” 

“God is good to all of us. He knows what we need better than we do. And just because he thinks it is better not to give you what you want right now doesn't mean he isn't answering you. You shall have what you ask for but not until the right time comes.” 

“God arranges everything for us, so that we need have no more fear or trouble and may be quite sure that all things will come right in the end.”

“It was so lovely, Heidi stood with tears pouring down her cheeks, and thanked God for letting her come home to it again. She could find no words to express her feelings, but lingered until the light began to fade and then ran on.” 

And the final quote, which each time I read it it reaffirms how I truly feel.

“If I spend every moment, for the rest of my days, thanking God for all his goodness to us, that would still not be enough.”

I am grateful for my name, I am grateful for what it stands for, I am grateful for my wonderful life and all the blessings that the Lord has seen fit to bestow upon me.