Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12 "A few years before we got lost in the cave," Pearl said, "Merle and I were looking for walnuts around the Sea of Galilee." "That's up north from the Dead Sea," Merle added. "And nowhere near as salty." "We noticed a big crowd gathering on a hillside near the water, so we ran over to see what was going on. The people had come to listen to a teacher," Pearl continued. "Yep!" said Merle. "He was traveling around the area with his friends, and news got out about what a great teacher he was. There were tons of people. Fortunately for us, we're squirrels, so we had a great treetop view!"

"Most of the people there were poor and had lived very hard lives," Pearl said. "They had been bullied by a group of other people. The teacher told the crowd that God could bless them. He said, 'God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.'" "There were lots of blessings," Merle said. "But I also remember him saying, 'God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.' And 'God

blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.'" "Good memory, Merle!" Pearl complimented. "God blesses with good memory those who eat a lot of walnuts... I made that one up," Merle confessed. "The teacher had a lot of other things to say, but one thing that I remember very well might help you with Edgar, Michael," said Pearl. "Was it an idea for an epic prank?" Michael asked. "Uh, no. He didn't say anything about pranks. He said, 'Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.'" "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you...," Michael repeated. "Huh."