VT-Mustard Seed > Skits-n-Such

Tag:: Mom, what’s my self-esteem?
Mom:: (puzzled) What did you say, Andrew?
Tag:: I said, “What’s my self-esteem?”
Mom:: It’s what you think about yourself, whether you feel valuable or important. Why do you ask?
Tag:: Well, I heard you tell Dad that calling me “Oops” would hurt my self-esteem. But he just did it again, and I didn’t feel anything...What’s an “Oops”?
Mom:: Well, ah, it’s, hmmm...it’s a name your father shouldn’t call you, just like I keep getting after Amanda about calling you “Tag.”
Tag:: Everybody calls me that, except you and Dad—and he calls me “Oops”. Why do you suppose he does that?
Mom:: Well, maybe you remind him of a weekend vacation we took a few years ago, or maybe he just likes to get in trouble with me. Either way, let’s change the subject, Andrew.
Tag:: Okay. What’cha doing?
Mom:: What does it look like I’m doing?
Tag:: Isn’t that the Bible? But why do you have the notebook and pencil?
Mom:: Yes, it is the Bible and I use the notebook to write down some of the thoughts I have and the promises I find in God’s Word. Then I take a little time to pray. It’s called “having devotions.”
Tag:: Oh...isn’t that kind of boring?
Mom:: Why do you say that?
Tag:: That book doesn’t have any pictures and look at all the big words! (looking over her shoulder)
Mom:: Andrew, sometimes the pictures are in the words. The words help your mind make a better picture than any drawing can.
Tag:: What do you mean?
Mom:: Well, the Bible tells us the story of Daniel being thrown into the lion’s den. Now you can imagine how scary that might be—in your mind you can see someone about Grandpa’s age down among lions like at the zoo just before meal time. That’s pretty scary, right?
Tag:: Yeah, but why is it so important to read it? I’ve seen you doing this lots of times. You don’t read it over and over do you?
Mom:: Well, sort of. It’s because the Bible tells us how God sees the things that happen in our world. The Bible is sort of a letter from him. People wrote down his words because they didn’t have ways to record the sound of his voice. So when I read the Bible I’m hearing God speak to me.
Tag:: Really? What did he say to you today?
Mom:: I’ve been sort of discouraged about our bills lately. It seems we always have something extra to pay for. This month we had to get snow tires for the car. Last month, it was the doctor bill for Mandy’s sprained ankle. We need to have the washer looked at because it’s starting to make a funny thumping sound...
Tag:: Maybe that’s where my guinea pig went, and he’s trying to get out. Can we look?
Mom:: (Laughing) Not likely, kiddo. Anyway, today I read the words of Jesus where he said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or wear...look at the birds of the air; they don’t plant or reap or store things in barns. But God feeds them.” It reminded me that God promises to take care of us, and that we are supposed to trust him for that, even to help pay our bills.
Tag:: I always wondered who fed the birds who don’t come to our feeder. But I didn’t know God did. He must have a huge feeder...does the Bible say anything about that?
Mom:: No silly. But it does have something to say to you.
Tag:: Yeah? What’s that?
Mom:: “Children obey your parents, in the Lord, for this is right.” Now skedaddle, I want to finish.
Tag:: Okay. (as he leaves) I never knew the Bible was a talking book...Does it say anything about “Oops”?
Mom:: Not a word, Andrew. Now, good-bye.

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VT-Mustard Seed

The Talking Book

by Alan R. Wolcott