00:08Once upon a time, in a small village nestled at the edge of a dense forest, there lived a young
00:13boy named Oliver.
00:14He was a sweet, curious child who loved nothing more than exploring the woods that surrounded his home.
00:22As Mother's Day approached, Oliver knew that he wanted to give his mother the best gift he could find.
00:27So, he set out early one morning with a basket in hand, determined to gather the most beautiful berries and
00:35flowers he could find.
00:37As he ventured deeper into the forest, the trees grew thicker and the air grew colder. But Oliver did not
00:44give up.
00:44He was determined to find the best gift for his mother, no matter what.
00:49Suddenly, he heard a faint, cackling laugh echoing through the trees.
00:54At first, he thought it was just the wind, but then he heard it again, louder this time.
01:00Curiosity getting the best of him. Oliver followed the sound until he stumbled upon a small, ramshackle cottage.
01:08The cottage was unlike anything Oliver had ever seen before.
01:13The walls were covered in moss and vines, and the roof was made of old, rusted metal.
01:19A gnarled old woman with a wart on her nose and a crooked grin on her face was sitting on
01:24the porch, stirring a cauldron of bubbling green liquid.
01:27As soon as she saw Oliver, she beckoned him to come closer.
01:32Hello, little boy!
01:33She said, her voice scratchy and low.
01:36What brings you to my neck of the woods?
01:39I'm looking for berries and flowers for my mother.
01:41Oliver replied, feeling a little uneasy.
01:44Well, well, well.
01:46Well, the witch cackled.
01:48I happen to have the most beautiful berries and flowers in all the land, but I can't just give them
01:54to you for free.
01:56You must do something for me first.
01:58What is it that you want me to do?
02:01Oliver asked nervously.
02:03I want you to stay with me for a little while.
02:06The witch said, her eyes gleaming with a wicked glint.
02:09I'll give you the berries and flowers you need, and in return, you can keep me company.
02:15After all, I get awfully lonely out here all by myself.
02:19Oliver hesitated, but the thought of finding the perfect gift for his mother was too tempting to resist.
02:25So, he agreed to stay with the witch for a little while.
02:30Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months.
02:34Oliver lost track of time as he spent his days gathering firewood, cooking meals, and keeping the witch company.
02:40But as time went on, he began to feel more and more trapped.
02:44He missed his family and his home, but the witch had cast a spell on him that made him forget
02:49everything about his old life.
02:51One day, as Oliver was gathering berries, he stumbled upon a magical amulet hidden in the bushes.
02:56As soon as he picked it up, he felt a jolt of energy shoot through his body.
03:02Suddenly, he remembered everything.
03:05His mother, his home, and the reason he had gone into the woods in the first place.
03:10I have to get out of here!
03:12Oliver said to himself, determined to break the witch's curse.
03:16He made a plan to sneak out of the cottage in the dead of night, but the witch was one
03:20step ahead of him.
03:21As he tiptoed towards the door, she cackled and waved her wand, casting a spell that turned him into a
03:27frog.
03:28Oliver was trapped, unable to escape the clutches of the wicked witch.
03:33Years passed, and Oliver remained trapped as a frog.
03:36The witch had long since forgotten about him, but he was unable to break the curse on his own.
03:42But one day, a good wizard came to the forest, searching for a rare herb to cure his sick wife.
03:49As he wandered through the woods, he heard the faint croaking of a frog.
03:53Curious, he followed the sound until he came upon Oliver, trapped and alone.
03:59Hello there, little frog, the wizard said kindly.
04:04What brings you to the woods?
04:05Oliver croaked, hoping the wizard would understand him.
04:09To his surprise, the wizard did.
04:11He had a magical ability to communicate with animals and creatures of the forest.
04:18I see, the wizard said after hearing Oliver's tale.
04:22I think I might be able to help you.
04:25Little frog.
04:25But first, I must find the herb I came here for.
04:29Together, Oliver and the wizard set out to find the herb.
04:33It took many days and many dangers, but finally, they found what they were looking for.
04:39The wizard brewed a potion using the herb, and with a wave of his wand, he broke the curse that
04:45had trapped Oliver for so long.
04:48As soon as the curse was lifted, Oliver felt his human body return to him.
04:53He stood up, stretching his limbs and blinking in the sunlight.
04:56For a moment, he was disoriented, unsure of where he was or how much time had passed.
05:03But then, he remembered everything.
05:06My mother!
05:07Oliver exclaimed.
05:08I have to get back to her!
05:10The wizard nodded, understanding me.
05:12Of course, my boy.
05:15Go home to your mother!
05:16She has missed you very much.
05:19Oliver thanked the wizard and set out on the long journey back to his village.
05:24His heart raced as he thought about seeing his mother again, after all these years.
05:28Would she still be there?
05:30Would she still remember him?
05:32As he walked through the forest, he saw familiar sights and landmarks that jogged his memory.
05:37He remembered the day he had set out to find berries and flowers for his mother.
05:42And how he had stumbled upon the witch's cottage.
05:45He remembered the long years he had spent, trapped and alone, unable to remember anything about his old life.
05:52Finally, he emerged from the forest and saw his village in the distance.
05:56He ran as fast as he could, his heart pounding with anticipation.
06:00As he reached his old home, he saw a familiar figure standing on the porch, looking out at the road.
06:08Mother!
06:09Oliver cried, tears streaming down his face.
06:13His mother turned, and when she saw him, she gasped in surprise.
06:17For a moment, she could not believe her eyes.
06:21But then, she ran down the steps and embraced him tightly, holding him close as if she would never let
06:28him go.
06:29Oliver! My dear son! You're back!
06:33She exclaimed, tears streaming down her own face.
06:37Oliver hugged his mother tightly, feeling a rush of emotions that he could not describe.
06:42It was as if he had been gone for only a day, rather than many long years.
06:46He told his mother everything about the witch, the curse, and the kind wizard who had saved him.
06:52For many long hours, they sat on the porch, talking and laughing and crying.
06:58Oliver's mother told him all about the things he had missed, the changes in the village, and the people who
07:03had come and gone.
07:04But most of all, she told him how much she had missed him, and how glad she was to have
07:09him back.
07:10From that day forward, Oliver never took his mother for granted again.
07:15He knew how precious and fleeting life could be, and he cherished every moment he had with her.
07:20Every Mother's Day, he would gather the most beautiful flowers and berries he could find.
07:27And he would give them to his mother with a heart full of gratitude and love.
07:31And the memory of the long years he had spent trapped in the witch.
07:36Eskos would remind him to always cherish the time he had with his loved ones, and to never forget the
07:42power of love and family.
07:43Jeers went be, and Oliver grew up to be a kind and wise man.
07:48He became a father himself, and he passed down the story of his adventure in the woods to his own
07:53children.
07:54Every Mother's Day, they would go on a family outing to gather flowers and berries.
07:59And they would tell stories and laugh together, just as Oliver and his mother had done.
08:05As for the wicked witch, she was never seen again in those woods.
08:09It was said that after the good wizard had broken her spells, she had fled to a faraway land, never
08:16to be heard from again.
08:17But Oliver never forgot the lesson he had learned from her.
08:21He knew that there was darkness and evil in the world, but he also knew that with love and kindness,
08:27those things could be overcome.
08:29And so, the story of Oliver's adventure in the woods became a legend in his village.
08:35Mothers would tell it to their children, and children would tell it to their children.
08:41And every Mother's Day...
08:43The people of the village would gather together to celebrate the love and sacrifice of mothers everywhere,
08:48and to honor the memory of Oliver's journey into the heart of the forest.
08:52Jesus Christ.
08:52Jesus Christ.
