Treasures of the Heart Summary and Analysis

All children in the village of Biram attended school in the church. Although Elias loved school and enjoyed hearing about faraway lands, he clearly felt that he learned more from his mother, who consistently related stories of the Bible, particularly about Jesus and the miracles he performed. Of particular interest to Elias, was the Beatitudes that he had preached at Galilee. The Beatitudes were a mystery to Elias, however, for, as a young child, he could not understand how one could be happy or blessed in poverty or grief, or how one could hunger for righteousness. In Jesus, though, he saw strength. He began to go off by himself at an early age, to pray to Jesus, developing what he later described as a friendship. Jesus became Elias' hero, and his daydreams often included visits...