Your Story Hour

Guest (Female): Hey everyone, come on. Your story hour is on.

Aunt Nikki: Welcome to Your Story Hour. I'm Aunt Nikki.

Uncle Jon: And I'm Uncle Jon, and we're here to bring you today's inspiring story.

Aunt Nikki: Hello everyone. Uncle Jon and I can hardly wait.

Uncle Jon: Because we have an especially exciting story to share with you today.

Aunt Nikki: That's right.

Uncle Jon: Aunt Nikki, I can't think of anything more exciting than being chased by a—

Aunt Nikki: Wait, wait, Uncle Jon. We don't want to spoil Aunt Carole's story.

Uncle Jon: Oh, right. Of course not. Let's just say that a teenager named Sarah comes face to face with a dangerous creature smack dab in the middle of one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the world.

Aunt Nikki: Very true. Our adventure begins not in a wilderness, but in a hospital room in Bozeman, Montana.

Uncle Jon: That's right. A hospital room where two best friends are talking about a frightening danger of another kind.

Aunt Nikki: So let's listen in on their conversation in our story called The Hunted.

Guest (Female): Dr. Thomas, Dr. Jared Thomas, please call radiology. Dr. Thomas, radiology please.

Sarah: Again with the Dr. Thomas loser. Where is this guy? Probably out sailing his yacht.

Barb: Sarah, this is Bozeman, Montana. No one sails yachts in Montana.

Sarah: I forgot. Probably out driving his Beemer or flying his Learjet.

Dr. Thomas: Actually, I drive a Dodge minivan and my airplane of choice is a Raleigh eight-speed bicycle. Hello, Barb. How are we feeling today?

Barb: Hello, Dr. Thomas. I'm doing okay.

Dr. Thomas: Any discomfort?

Barb: You mean other than throwing up, being exhausted, and wishing I was dead?

Dr. Thomas: I'm so sorry about that, Barb. Your chemo has some nasty side effects and, unfortunately, you're enjoying them all.

Barb: Lucky me.

Dr. Thomas: But the good news is that your tumor has shrunk a little bit. Too early to tell if that will continue but we grab hope wherever we can, right?

Barb: Right. When can I go home?

Dr. Thomas: I'd say about a week, maybe two. We'll see what happens.

Barb: By the way, Dr. Thomas, this is my best friend Sarah. Have you met Sarah?

Dr. Thomas: Can't say as I have. Hello, best friend Sarah.

Sarah: Hello.

Dr. Thomas: Well, Barb, got to run. I'm late for a meeting in radiology. I'll stop by again later today after your treatment, okay? Just try and get some rest, drink plenty of fluids, and— No, wait. That's for a cold. Sometimes I get my diseases mixed up.

Barb: So long, Doc. And radiology is on the fourth floor, just in case you're wondering.

Dr. Thomas: This hospital has a fourth floor? When did they do that? Nobody tells me anything. See you later, Miss Learjet.

Barb: See you, doctor.

Sarah: He's cute. You didn't tell me how cute he was.

Barb: Down, girl. He's also very married. Besides, he's safe around me. Who other than an oncology doctor and a best friend would want to hang out with a sick girl with no hair, no eyebrows, no energy, and who throws up every time she eats something?

Sarah: Barb, you're beautiful. Really, all the guys at school say you are.

Barb: Were. Don't you mean were?

Sarah: So you're going through a little bump in the road beauty-wise. That's why I love you so much, Sarah. You're the only person I know who would call a high-grade osteosarcoma a bump in the road. I'm afraid my bone cancer is a little more than a bump. It's more like a giant wall with security cameras and attack dogs. I could lose my leg or worse.

Sarah: No, no, no. That's not going to happen. You're going to get well and that's all there is to it.

Barb: I hope you're right, Sarah. I really do. But sometimes—

Sarah: What?

Barb: Sometimes I get scared. Sometimes I think I might not get well and—

Sarah: Stop it. Stop it. Don't talk like that. Listen to me, Barb Angelo. The chemo is going to kill the cancer and you're going to get out of here and your hair is going to grow back even more beautiful and even more blonde than it used to be. And we'll go to school together and graduate together and go hiking in the mountains just like before. Do you hear me?

Barb: Yes, I do. And so do the people at the nurse station and everyone clear out into the parking lot.

Sarah: Well, I don't care. This osteo-whatever isn't going to mess things up forever. I won't let it. And as soon as I get back from this trip with my dad and grandfather—

Barb: Your mom's not going?

Sarah: No, she's taking my grandma up to see my aunt while we're gone. Anyway, as soon as I'm back from this stupid camping trip, I'm going to come and visit you again and we're going to have—

Barb: Stupid camping trip? You guys are going up to Big Prairie, just the most beautiful valley in the entire world. We're talking Bob Marshall Wilderness here.

Sarah: So we're going to ride some dumb horses through the Bob for ten days. Big deal.

Barb: Yes, it is a big deal. That's heaven on earth up there. You should be excited.

Sarah: Well, I'm not. I'd rather stay here with you.

Barb: Sarah Bloomfield, you listen to me. You go on that trip and enjoy yourself. You got that? I've got good old Doc Thomas to keep me company. My mom and dad come and visit me every single day too. I'll be just fine.

Sarah: But—

Barb: But nothing. You just saddle up and have a great time up there or I'll personally kick you right in the dock. And being someone who knows horses, you understand exactly where that is.

Sarah: Yeah, yeah, I know. The opposite end from its muzzle. Anyway, I'll go, but I'll be thinking about you the whole time.

Barb: Fair enough. And I'll be thinking about you. But before you go, would you do one thing for me?

Sarah: Sure.

Barb: Would you pray with me?

Sarah: What?

Barb: I think God might be a little tired of hearing me all the time, so I thought if you'd pray, he'd maybe—

Sarah: Forget it.

Barb: What do you mean forget it?

Sarah: You heard me. I don't want to. I don't want to pray.

Barb: Sarah, why?

Sarah: I've got my reasons. Listen, I've got to go. My dad will be waiting for me at the entrance.

Barb: Sarah, please tell me why.

Sarah: I'll be back before you know it, okay? Just do what the doctor says and I'll be back. Love you, Barb.

Barb: I love you too, Sarah. I really do. Have fun in Big Prairie. Be safe.

Alan: Will you just look at those mountains. I don't know how it's possible. Big Prairie gets more beautiful every time we come up here. The rivers, the meadows, just gorgeous, right Pa?

Grandpa: You won't get any argument from me, son. And I've been riding this valley since the Bob was created back in 1940. No roads, no logging, no buildings, no nothing. Just Mother Nature doing her thing. What do you think, Pete? You like Big Prairie?

Pete: I think I smell a bear. You smell a bear, Grandpa?

Grandpa: No, can't say as I do. But I do smell a whole lot of horse. That might be because each of us is sitting on one. Four horses can smell up a place. And I'm also getting a hint of donkey. And that might be because we've got two of those carrying our supplies. But I got to say, Pete, no bear.

Pete: You see any bears back there, Sarah?

Sarah: You saw a bear?

Alan: No, no, no, not to worry. Your brother's just nervous.

Pete: Well, they can run 35 miles per hour. I learned that in school. So if we see a bear, you shouldn't run away. You should make a lot of noise. Try to look big. And if it comes at you, stand tall and don't act scared.

Alan: That would be kind of difficult.

Pete: And my teacher said if that doesn't work, you should lie down on the ground. Pretend like you're dead.

Alan: Lie down and play dead, huh?

Pete: Yeah. It would be dumb for a bear to attack something dead. But if you try to run away, it'd probably chase you down and make you dead.

Alan: Well, at least then you wouldn't have to pretend. You know, Pete, I think you worry too much. From what I've heard, bears are as afraid of us as we are of them.

Pete: Maybe so, but I can't run 35 miles per hour. Just saying.

Grandpa: Pete, my boy, Lewis and Clark could have used you when they traveled through here a couple hundred years ago. They would have made you their bear expert. Hey, where'd Sarah go?

Pete: Probably got eaten by a bear.

Grandpa: Oh, there she is, just coming around the bend. She keeps lagging farther and farther behind. I just don't know what's gotten into that girl. She's been quiet as a stone since we left Bozeman three days ago. I'll drop back to make sure everything's okay. Whoa, whoa, girl. Hey, Sarah, what you doing back here all by yourself? Enjoying this fine day and magnificent views?

Sarah: Yeah, that's it. Having the time of my life.

Alan: Sarah, come on. Your chin's been dragging in the mud ever since we left home. You want to talk about it?

Sarah: Not really.

Alan: Are you worried about Barb? Because if you are, she's in—

Sarah: Daddy, I appreciate your concern but I'm having a little hard time understanding something.

Alan: Well, what? What don't you understand?

Sarah: God.

Alan: God? As in God Almighty? God the Creator? That God?

Sarah: Yeah, that one. I mean, how can he make all this beauty and then let my best friend get cancer? Barb is like the perfect person. She never hurt anybody, is kind to everyone, and then gets this stupid tumor in her bone and now she's in the hospital and the doctors say she may or may not get well. So how can God do this to her? How can he just—

Pete: Dad, Dad, come quick, Dad.

Grandpa: Son, you better get up here fast. You got to see this.

Alan: Sarah, something's wrong. Come on, stay close to me.

Grandpa: Whoa, whoa. Whoa, boy.

Alan: What happened here? Is this a campsite?

Grandpa: What's left of one. Look, the tent is in shreds. So are the sleeping bags.

Alan: And check out those backpacks. Someone or something tore them up completely.

Pete: And are those hiking boots in the bushes over there? Looks like something tried to eat them. Dad, I'm scared.

Alan: Hold on, Pete. We're not sure what happened so don't go all crazy on me. There's got to be an explanation. Wait, I think I may have found it. I'll just dismount and take a closer look at this pile on the path.

Sarah: What is it, Grandpa?

Grandpa: Yep, this scat could only have come from one source. And so could these prints by the trail. See them? About six inches across, deep claw marks. No question about it. We've got to get out of here.

Alan: Why?

Grandpa: Because of the second pair of prints. They're much smaller but following the first. That's a mother and an offspring. A very bad combination, especially in the wild. Come on, everybody. Let's go. Only one creature could do this much damage and leave those prints. Maybe if we turn around, we could—

Alan: Pa, you might want to look back down the trail the way we came by those rocks.

Pete: It's a bear. A mama grizzly bear with a cub.

Alan: And she's looking right at us.

Sarah: Dad, Grandpa, we can't get away. These old pack horses can't run fast enough. What are we going to do?

Uncle Jon: How terrifying, Aunt Nikki. So what happens? Does the bear catch them? Do they get away? Are they rescued?

Aunt Nikki: I'm sure that Aunt Carole will let us know how the story ends. But first, we want to say a big thank you to this radio station for airing our program. Did you know that you're hearing today's story because of their generosity?

Uncle Jon: Yes. When radio stations love stories as much as we do, they generously partner with Your Story Hour to share our stories with you.

Aunt Nikki: This station gives Your Story Hour a half hour of broadcast time and we provide them with the stories that you know and love.

Uncle Jon: That's right. So why don't you take a moment and thank your radio station for airing us? That way you'll keep hearing Your Story Hour on this station.

Aunt Nikki: And just a quick note for all you moms and dads. We're able to provide these stories to radio stations because of the generosity of people like you.

Uncle Jon: Yes, people who believe in our ministry of building character through storytelling and feel impressed to support our program.

Aunt Nikki: So we ask that if this program has been a blessing to you and your family, that you help us continue to provide these stories for boys and girls around the world. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a big difference.

Uncle Jon: You can donate on our website. That's yourstoryhour.org. Just click support us in the menu and see how you can help. Or if you prefer, you can call and make a donation over the phone. Our number is 800-987-7879. That's 1-800-987-7879.

Aunt Nikki: Or if snail mail is more your thing, you can mail your support to Your Story Hour, P.O. Box 8, Niles, Michigan 49120. That's Post Office Box 8, Niles, N-I-L-E-S, Michigan 49120.

Uncle Jon: Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support.

Aunt Nikki: Uncle Jon, why did you say thank you three times?

Uncle Jon: Well, I guess it was because I meant it so much and I wanted to make absolutely sure that they understood my gratitude.

Aunt Nikki: Ah, that makes sense. And it reminds me of a joke I heard recently.

Uncle Jon: Oh?

Aunt Nikki: Why does history keep repeating itself?

Uncle Jon: Hmm. Why does history keep repeating itself? I know. Because people weren't listening the first time.

Aunt Nikki: You've heard the joke before.

Uncle Jon: Yes, I have. But your joke contains a grain of truth. History does seem to repeat itself because people tend to make the same sorts of mistakes over and over again.

Aunt Nikki: You'd think humanity would learn from its mistakes. I guess that's why it's so important to study history because hearing the stories about the past can help us make better decisions in the future.

Uncle Jon: Bingo. That's exactly why Your Story Hour has made so many stories about historical figures. People like Sacagawea and Sequoia.

Aunt Nikki: Joan of Arc and Louis Pasteur.

Uncle Jon: Sojourner Truth and George Washington Carver.

Aunt Nikki: And so many more. We invite you to visit our website at yourstoryhour.org and take a look for yourself at the large collection of historical stories we have available.

Uncle Jon: Once you're on our website, just click on shop in our menu and then you can search for your favorite history topics and heroes. I'm sure you'll find many stories to enjoy.

Aunt Nikki: And speaking of enjoying, let's get back to enjoying today's story called The Hunted.

Aunt Carole: The wilds of Western Montana offer much beauty to any hiker or rider willing to wander into their meadows and mountains. But it is a wilderness and some creatures that live there are better left alone.

Alan: Keep calm, everyone. No sudden moves. That bear is trying to decide if we're a threat to her cub.

Grandpa: One thing's for sure. We're totally in her territory. As far as she's concerned, she owns this part of the valley and we're trespassing.

Sarah: So what do we do, Daddy?

Alan: Well, we just slowly start moving away from her. We don't want to provoke her in any way. And it might be a good idea that we sing something. You know, make a noise so she knows exactly where we are at all times.

Sarah: Sing? I don't feel like singing. I feel like screaming.

Alan: Then just sing really, really loudly, Sarah. Come on, you guys. Let's move out and whatever we do, let's stay together.

Pete: What song should we sing? How about Old MacDonald Had a Farm?

Alan: We might want to include God in our situation. How about He's Got the Whole World in His Hands? Good idea. I'll start and you guys join me. He's got the whole world in his hands. He's got the whole wide world in his hands. He's got the whole world in his hands.

Alan: Okay, okay, I think we can stop singing. I haven't seen the bear for the last thirty minutes. Maybe we're out of her territory by now. Anyway, I think we should plan—

Todd: Hey, hello down there.

Alan: What was that?

Todd: Up here. Up in the cottonwood tree.

Pete: Hey, look. There's a man and a woman in the cottonwood tree.

Alan: Hey there. What are you guys doing?

Todd: Bear. We're trying to escape a grizzly bear that came into our camp early this morning. Kind of tore things up. Good thing we had some food. While the bear was tearing into it, we snuck away. About an hour later, we heard a noise and thought maybe it was following us so we climbed up here. I've heard that grizzlies usually don't climb trees after their prey.

Alan: That's true. Black bears yes, but grizzlies usually don't climb higher than they can reach. I guess they're just too heavy for most trees. Oh, and females have longer than males, just in case you were wondering.

Todd: So have you seen it?

Alan: Afraid so, and she has a cub. The bad news is she may be after us as well. Why don't you two come down and join us? You can ride with my grandson Pete here and your lady friend can ride with my granddaughter Sarah. We need to get out of this valley as soon as possible.

Todd: Okay, thanks. Coming down. Thank you guys so much. Name's Todd and this is my wife Terry.

Terry: Hey everybody.

Alan: Well, you can call me Grandpa. Most everyone does. And this is my son Alan. Just climb aboard and let's get out of here.

Todd: We really appreciate this. My feet are kind of sore. I think the bear ate my hiking boots. Hey Sarah, hope you don't mind me riding double with you.

Sarah: No problem. This is a big horse. Plenty of room.

Alan: Okay, let's get moving and keep talking. I want that bear to be able to keep track of us even if we aren't sure exactly where she is.

Aunt Carole: And so as the group continued moving, hopefully away from the grizzly and her cub, they talked between themselves. After a long stretch of not seeing or hearing the bear, Sarah and Terry dropped back just a little from the others as they rode along but still stayed relatively close as they chatted together.

Terry: And then I moved to Helena about six years ago, met Todd and we got married. I didn't think I'd ever fall in love but I did. Even my parents were amazed. Sarah, are you okay?

Sarah: Sure, why do you ask?

Terry: Well, I've been doing most of the talking. I've told you my life story up to when I married Todd, as boring as it is, and you haven't said much of anything. Are you just too scared?

Sarah: Yeah, I'm still scared, but I'm also kind of sad.

Terry: Sad? Why?

Sarah: Well, if you must know, my best friend is in the hospital. She's got cancer.

Terry: Sarah, I'm so sorry. I know how sad that can be.

Sarah: No, you probably don't. No one knows.

Terry: Actually, I do. My son had cancer. He died. He was only four years old.

Sarah: What?

Terry: Yeah, leukemia. Name was Justin. Happened last year. Todd and I took this camping trip as a way to reconnect with each other and with life. We thought it might help and it was helping until the grizzly showed up.

Sarah: Terry, can I ask you something?

Terry: Sure.

Sarah: Do you hate God?

Terry: Hate God? Why?

Sarah: Because your son got cancer. Because he died.

Terry: I don't think that has anything to do with God.

Sarah: But he could stop it. He could make it go away.

Terry: You know, that's exactly what I thought at first. And I'll have to admit I got very mad at God for what happened to us. And I know that sometimes he does intervene but not in our case. So I stopped reading my Bible, got kind of bitter inside, then I figured something out.

Sarah: What?

Terry: I decided that cancer and dying isn't part of God's world. It wasn't what he had in mind when he created this earth. And according to the Bible, it won't be part of his heaven either. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all the holy mountains, that kind of stuff. So I said to myself, "Terry, God isn't to blame. Something or someone else is."

Sarah: What? Who?

Terry: I'm thinking the devil. Remember, everything was fine until he showed up. And then Eve just kind of handed things over to the devil when she chose to listen to him instead of God.

Sarah: You mean when she ate the forbidden fruit?

Terry: Exactly. And while it hasn't worked out so good for the human race, so I figure that until we're in heaven where God's calling all the shots, disease and dying will just be part of life here in devil-land. Comes with the territory, it seems. Does that make sense to you?

Sarah: Yeah, yeah, I guess it does.

Terry: I don't mean to sound like a preacher, but you asked.

Sarah: No, no, what you said does kind of make sense. A little bit anyway. Maybe a lot. Anyway, thanks. I really appreciate—

Alan: Hey, Sarah. I think that grizzly is still trailing us. Hurry and catch up.

Sarah: We're coming.

Alan: That bear is stalking us. She sees us as a threat to her cub. That also means we're still in her territory.

Grandpa: What should we do?

Alan: I'm not sure. Sarah, stay tight with us, okay? We'll look bigger if we're all together in a group.

Sarah: Daddy, I'm scared.

Alan: We're okay so far. Let's just—

Pete: Dad, she's running. She's running towards us. She's attacking.

Alan: Everyone scream, shout, make noise. It's not working. It's not working. She's still coming. Stay together. Keep the horses together.

Sarah: Daddy, she's going to get us. What was that? Sounded like a rifle, a powerful rifle.

Alan: Look, there's a man on a horse coming from that field on the right. He's charging right toward that bear and firing a rifle into the air.

Pete: I think it's a park ranger. And here comes another one.

Alan: Look, the bear has stopped charging. It's beginning to back away. Hey, now it's turning around and running. The bear is running away from us.

Pete: And there goes the cub too. Go rangers, go, go, go. Look at them. That bear is out of here. The gunfire scared her away. Here come the rangers.

Park Ranger: Whoa, whoa there. Are you folks okay?

Alan: We are now. How'd you know we were in trouble?

Park Ranger: We heard reports of an aggressive bear along this trail from hikers back at headquarters. We thought we'd better come up and take a look. Someone said there was a destroyed campsite about 15 miles from here.

Todd: That would be ours. My wife and I spent the better part of a day in a cottonwood tree. These fine people rescued us and offered us a lift out of the mountains. They didn't have to ask us twice.

Park Ranger: I'll bet. Well, everyone is safe for now, but we all better get down to the lake. Grizzlies can be kind of unpredictable, especially when they have a cub and especially this one. We're going to have to keep an eye on her. She's unusually aggressive, even for a mother protecting her baby. She just might come back for another go at us. Lead the way, my friends. We're right behind you.

Alan: Oh, there you are, Sarah. We missed you at the campfire. Sure is pretty here by the lake. You been walking around?

Sarah: Daddy?

Alan: Yes?

Sarah: I'm sorry.

Alan: About what?

Sarah: About being, well, kind of quiet the last few days.

Alan: I think I understand why.

Sarah: Well, I didn't until I talked with Terry. She told me about her little son who died of cancer last year.

Alan: Oh, no. Really? That's so sad.

Sarah: She also told me something about God. About how we live in an evil world where bad things happen, even to good people.

Alan: I think she's right.

Sarah: So I figure the devil is kind of like that bear. You know, stalking us, ready to hurt us.

Alan: I don't know about a bear, but the Bible does say that the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat up.

Sarah: So I guess in this world, we're all being hunted by the devil. He wants to cause all kinds of problems and then make us think that it's all God's fault. But it's not God's fault. It's his fault.

Alan: That's a hard lesson to learn, Sarah. Are you going to be okay?

Sarah: I think so. But I am looking forward to getting back to Bozeman. There's something I need to do.

Alan: What?

Sarah: I owe someone a prayer.

Alan: A prayer?

Sarah: Yeah, I need to pray for Barb, pray with Barb. She's being chased by a terrible disease and I think maybe that prayer can be like firing a rifle at a bear.

Alan: I see what you mean. When we pray for a sick person, we chase away the fear and bring them some peace and hope. And they need that, right?

Sarah: Right. And we've got to keep praying and never give up.

Alan: Good girl. And I'll fire my prayer rifle as well. So will Grandpa and Pete. You can count on us.

Sarah: Thanks. That's important. Because like on the trail today, when there's danger, it's best for us all to stick together. Right, Dad?

Alan: Right. I'm so proud of you, Sarah. And I'm sure that when we get back, Barb will be happy to see you and to hear about the grizzly, of course, and to hear you pray.

Aunt Nikki: What an interesting story, Uncle Jon, and what a beautiful lesson to learn, that the bad things that happen in our lives aren't God's fault.

Uncle Jon: That's right. As the Bible says in the book of James chapter one, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights."

Aunt Nikki: But just as Sarah learned in the story, the old devil is kind of sneaky, trying to make us think that the bad things he causes to happen are really God's fault. If you think about it, the devil has been telling people these lies since the Garden of Eden.

Uncle Jon: But we don't have to fall prey to the devil's lies. We know better. As we learned today, pain and suffering don't come from God. However, comfort and healing do.

Aunt Nikki: Mm-hmm. It helps if we repeat the truth we know about God whenever we are confronted with one of Satan's lies. But that means we actually have to know the truth.

Uncle Jon: And the best way to know the truth is by studying God's word in the Holy Scriptures.

Aunt Nikki: That's right. Uncle Jon and I are very passionate about knowing the Bible and that's why we are so happy to tell you about Adventures in the Holy Bible. Full of Bible stories and fun quizzes and games, the Adventures leads you through the exciting journey of Jesus' life, his timeless parables and his profound teachings that are relevant to our lives today.

Uncle Jon: Our hope is that by getting to know Jesus as your best friend, you'll be equipped to combat any lie the devil tries to throw your way. So please check out Adventures in the Holy Bible. These non-denominational Bible lessons are fun and easy and best of all, they're free.

Aunt Nikki: Did you say free? That's right. And the Bible lessons aren't the only thing that's free. As you complete the lessons, you'll earn our stories about the life of Jesus. Free Bible lessons and free stories.

Uncle Jon: The Adventures are available online through our website at yourstoryhour.org. That's yourstoryhour.org. Just click on Kids Corner in the menu and you'll find Adventures in the Holy Bible. Our time is up. So long and God bless.