Bible Edition Miserable Millie Summary Millie thought the whole world was unfair. Even though she had a nice house and a loving family, she was always miserable. Whenever things didn t go her way, Millie constantly complained. Millie became so miserable that she decided to run away so she could do whatever she wanted. She takes a bus to the big city, but instead of having fun, she encounters one disaster after another. Millie is alone and scared, and ends up with no money, no food to eat, and nowhere to sleep. After getting caught stealing candy, the police call her parents. Her parents are overjoyed that she has been found. Millie finally appreciated what she had and became, the happiest girl in the whole world. Main Virtues Respect/Trustworthiness/Fairness Other Virtues Appreciation, Cheerfulness, Cleanliness, Cooperation, Forgiveness, Honesty, Justice, Obedience to Parents, Purity, Respect for Law, Self-Discipline, Sportsmanship, Tolerance, and Unity Unselfishness Truthfulness Stubbornness Obeying Parents Forgiveness Punishment for Disobedience Complaining Running Away from Home Stealing Contents Eating Properly Obeying Authorities Sexual Temptations Judging Parents Loving Others Apologizing and Repenting Obedience Brings Happiness Questions
Unselfishness Whenever Papa or Mama gave their children chores to do, Millie constantly complained, I always have to do the most work. This made Papa and Mama very sad because it was not true. But Millie did not care. In her mind, whatever she felt was unfair had to be true. And that was all that mattered to Millie. Millie was selfish. She did not care about others. However she felt, that had to be true. An unselfish person thinks and cares about others. 1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other s well-being. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; [5] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; Galatians 5:19-23 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, [21] envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, selfcontrol. Against such there is no law. Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Philippians 2:3-7 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. [4] Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. [5] Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, [7] but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. Additional verses: Proverbs 28:27, 1 Corinthians 10:33 and James 3:14-16 * The check is a recommended scripture to teach the particular lesson. All verses are from the New King James Version. Truthfulness Whenever Millie went to bed, she always grumbled, All my friends can stay up late watching TV, but I can t! Millie was not sure this was true, but that was the way she felt. When people make up stories, they are not telling the truth. If they are not telling the truth, then they are lying. The Bible has strong words to say about lying. 2
Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: [17] A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, [18] A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, [19] A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight. Miserable Millie Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Additional verses: Proverbs 12:19 and John 8:44 Stubbornness Whenever Millie played games with Willie and Betsy, she always wanted to play according to her rules. But Willie and Betsy would insist, We need to play according to the rules of the game. If Millie did not get her way, she would quit playing and yell, You re stubborn! You always want to play your way! Millie claimed her brother and sister were stubborn, but she was the one who was stubborn. 1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king. Jeremiah 5:23 But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; They have revolted and departed. Mark 3:5 Then He said to them, It is lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill? But they kept silent. [5] And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness 3
of their hearts, He said to the man, Stretch out your hand. And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Romans 2:5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, Additional verses: Leviticus 26:18-20, Nehemiah 9:29, Jeremiah 7:24, Jeremiah 9:13-14 and Jeremiah 16:12 Obeying Parents One day Millie announced, I m going to the park to play. It s dangerous for young girls to go alone to the park, warned Mama. All my friends can go wherever they want, cried Millie. Why can t I? I can t do anything by myself! You need to trust us, said Mama. Millie stomped out of the room mumbling, It s not fair! No one ever trusts me! Millie did not obey her parents. Children often get into lots of trouble because they stubbornly refuse to listen to their loving parents. Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. Proverbs 6:20-21 My son, keep your father s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. [21] Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. [2] Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: [3] that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Additional verses: Matthew 15:4-6 and 1 Timothy 3:4 Forgiveness One day while playing in the backyard, Willie accidentally bumped Millie. Ouch! screamed Millie. Why did you hit me? 4
I m sorry, stammered Willie. It was an accident. No, it wasn t, insisted Millie. She picked up a stick and began hitting Willie on the head. Millie was unwilling to forgive her brother even though he said he was sorry and it was an accident. The Bible teaches that we are always to be willing to forgive others. Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? [22] Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. Luke 17:3-4 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. [4] And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, I repent, you shall forgive him. Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Additional verses: 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Psalm 86:5 Punishment for Disobedience When Mama heard Willie yelling, she rushed to the window and called them both in. After hearing what had happened, Mama scolded Millie. Go to time-out right now! Tonight, you re going to bed early! Loving parents will discipline their children when they do wrong. Wise children will obey their parents so they will not have to be disciplined. Proverbs 13:24 He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. Proverbs 23:13-14 Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. 5
[14] You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell. Miserable Millie Proverbs 29:15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Proverbs 29:17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul. Hebrews 12:5-11 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; [6] For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives. [7] If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? [8] But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. [9] Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? [10] For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. [11] Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Additional verses: Proverbs 3:11-12; 19:18; and 22:15 Complaining Millie constantly had something to grumble about. If anything bad happened to her, it was always someone else s fault. In her eyes, she never did anything wrong. As Millie lay in bed that night, she got so disgusted at how everyone was so mean and unfair to her that she got out of bed and made a list of her complaints: 1. I work harder than anyone around the house. 2. I go to bed earlier than all my friends. 3. No one ever plays by my rules. 4. I can t eat whatever I want. 5. I can t watch what I want on TV or the Internet. 6. My friends can go anywhere, but I can t. 7. Teachers only pick on me. 8. I m the only one who gets punished. 9. I can never wear clothes I like. 10. No one ever trusts me! That night, with tears rolling down her cheeks, Millie groaned, Everyone hates me! Papa, Mama, Willie, Betsy, friends, teachers EVERYONE! I can t do anything I want. It s so unfair! No one has it as bad as I do. I m the most miserable girl in the whole world! Millie s constant complaining made her more and more miserable. The Bible teaches us to do everything without grumbling or complaining. 6
Exodus 16:7-8 And in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord; for He hears your complaints against the Lord. But what are we, that you complain against us? [8] Also Moses said, This shall be seen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the Lord hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord. Numbers 14:27-29 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. [28] Say to them, As I live, says the Lord, just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: [29] The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. 1 Corinthians 10:10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without complaining and disputing, [15] that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, James 5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! Additional verses: Psalm 106:25; 106:25 and Jude 1:16 Running Away from Home As she lay in bed crying, suddenly she got an idea. She sat up straight in bed and exclaimed, I ll run away from home! Then I can do anything I want! Her heart beat with great excitement as she thought about all the fun things she could do. I can watch whatever I want on TV. I can go to bed anytime. I can dress the way I like. I can eat anything I want. I can go to any park whenever I wish, and no one can stop me! I ll be free at last! Millie could hardly sleep thinking about all the fun things she could do. When morning came, she jumped out of bed and sneered saying, This is the last day of my old life! I hope I never see this terrible house again! The Bible has a story of a son who ran away from home. The son thought that by doing this he would be very happy. Read the story of the prodigal son from the Bible. The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-24 Then He said: A certain man had two sons. [12] And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. So he divided to them his livelihood. [13] And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. [14] But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. [15] Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. [16] And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine 7
ate, and no one gave him anything. [17] But when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! [18] I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, [19] and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants. [20] And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. [21] And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. [22] But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. [23] And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; [24] for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry. Think of how the son felt: A. When he left his home B. When he was spending his money C. When his money was gone D. When his job was feeding pigs E. When he returned home Think of how his father felt: A. When his son left home B. When he saw his son from far away C. When he heard his son say, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. Stealing When school ended, Millie raced home. When she saw Mama working in the garden, she quickly went to Mama s purse and stole some money. Then she went to empty her piggy bank. It is especially sad when parents cannot trust their children. Exodus 20:15 You shall not steal. Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. John 12:4-6 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon s son, who would betray Him, said, [5] Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? [6] This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. Romans 13:9 For the commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, 8
nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Additional verses: Proverbs 11:1 and Mark 10:19 Eating Properly I m hungry, said Millie. Then with a big grin she said, Now I can eat whatever I want! She went into a restaurant and said, I want a large hot fudge sundae with lots of whipped cream. You want that for breakfast? asked the surprised waitress. Yes, replied Millie. That s my favorite breakfast. An hour later, Millie moaned, Ohhhh!!!! My stomach hurts! For the rest of the day Millie could not eat. Millie passed an amusement park. Oh good! she exclaimed. I can go on all kinds of rides, and no one can stop me! But because of her stomachache, Millie did not enjoy any of the rides. Millie did not care about eating healthy food. She cared only for food that tasted good. She ended up with a stomachache. Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit. God wants us to eat properly so we can have a healthy body in order to honor him. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. Proverbs 31:4-5 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; [5] Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. Ecclesiastes 10:17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time-- For strength and not for drunkenness! 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? [20] For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God s. Philippians 3:19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their 9
mind on earthly things. Miserable Millie Obeying Authorities When it was almost dark, Millie decided to go to the city park to find a place to sleep. Mama never trusted me to make my own decisions, she mumbled with a sneer, but now I can go anywhere I want, and no one can stop me! Millie strutted into the park. When she passed a group of boys, one of the boys pointed and shouted, Look! She s alone. The boys took off and ran to get Millie. Millie ran as fast as she could screaming, Help! Help! But there was no one to help her. The boys were getting closer and closer. Millie raced to the top of a hill. Just as the boys were about to catch her, a police officer appeared. The boys quickly scattered into the bushes. Please help me, pleaded Millie. Those boys were chasing me. You d better go home right now, warned the officer. It s dangerous for kids to be alone in the park. I ll walk you out of the park. Thank you so much, said Millie. Before this Millie hated police. But now she was really glad to see one. Police officers are our friends. They are there to protect us. Some people do not like police because they are disobeying the law. Those obeying the laws have nothing to fear. The Bible teaches us to obey authorities. Romans 13:1-7 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. [2] Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. [3] For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. [4] For he is God s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. [5] Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience sake. [6] For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God s ministers attending continually to this very thing. [7] Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 1 Peter 2:13-17 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord s sake, whether to the king as supreme, [14] or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. [15] For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-- [16] as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. [17] Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 2 Peter 2:10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, Jude 1:8 10
Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Additional verses: Proverbs 8:15-16 and 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Sexual Temptations Millie was miserable. All day she walked around the big city hoping to find some money. When she passed some street girls, they wanted her to join them. I m not interested, stammered Millie. Then she said to herself, I don t want to live like that. Our media floods our society with immorality. The Bible has much to say about sexual temptations, and children need to be aware of these evils. According to the situation and the age of the children, use appropriate discretion when teaching about this subject. Proverbs 5:3-13 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; [4] But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. [5] Her feet go down to death, Her steps lay hold of hell. [6] Lest you ponder her path of life-- Her ways are unstable; You do not know them. [7] Therefore hear me now, my children, And do not depart from the words of my mouth. [8] Remove your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house, [9] Lest you give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one; [10] Lest aliens be filled with your wealth, And your labors go to the house of a foreigner; [11] And you mourn at last, When your flesh and your body are consumed, [12] And say: How I have hated instruction, And my heart despised correction! [13] I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me! Proverbs 6:24 To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual 11
immorality sins against his own body. Miserable Millie Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, [21] envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Ephesians 5:3-5 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; [4] neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. [5] For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Additional verses: Colossians 3:5 1; 1 Thessalonians 4:3 Judging Parents Millie lay awake for a long time shaking with fear. I hope nobody finds me, she sobbed, as tears streamed down her face. Ohhh!!! How I wish I were safe in my bed. Now I m all alone and scared. Why was I so foolish to steal money from Mama s purse and run away from home? Now Papa and Mama will never want me back. Millie cried and cried until she fell asleep. Meanwhile, Papa and Mama were searching everyday for Millie. Where s my Millie? Mama would wail over and over. I don t know, Papa would sigh with tears, but we re going to search for her until we find her. Papa, Mama, Willie, and Betsy put signs up all over town offering a reward for anyone finding Millie. Millie made a big mistake. She thought that because she stole from her parents, her parents would not love her. Children need to be aware that even when their parents punish them for their evil deeds, they still love them. Parents punish children in hopes that their children will not repeat their evil behavior. Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. Proverbs 13:24 He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. Luke 6:37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. Hebrews 12:9-11 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? [10] For they indeed for a few days 12
chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. [11] Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Loving Others The officer took Millie to the police station and called her parents. When Mama heard that Millie had been found, she shouted for joy. Then she exclaimed, We re coming right away! Millie began to cry and shake all over. What will Papa and Mama do to me? To Millie s great surprise, when Papa saw her, he ran to her and gave her a giant hug. With tears streaming down his face, Papa said, We love you, Millie. We re so glad we found you. Then Mama wrapped her arms around her and began kissing her and saying over and over, We re so happy to see you. The police officers just smiled. They were glad they had saved another girl from the streets. When Millie came home, she gave Mama, Papa, and even Willie and Betsy big hugs. We re so glad to have you back, said Betsy. When Millie ran away, she said, Everyone hates me! Papa, Mama, Willie, Betsy, friends, teachers EVERYONE! Notice how untrue that was. Millie had a false picture of what was happening. In reality, Papa, Mama, Willie, Betsy, and the police officers all loved Millie. The Bible teaches that we should always love others. Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. Luke 10:25-37 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? [26] He said to him, What is written in the law? What is your reading of it? [27] So he answered and said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. [28] And He said to him, You have answered rightly; do this and you will live. [29] But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? [30] Then Jesus answered and said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. [31] Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. [32] Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. [33] But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. [34] So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. [35] On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you. [36] So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? [37] And he said, He who showed mercy on him. Then Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Romans 13:8-9 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. [9] 13
For the commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well; Apologizing and Repenting Then with tears streaming down her face Millie confessed, I m so sorry for stealing and for all the bad things I ve done. Papa, Mama, I was very foolish for not listening and trusting you. Living on the streets was terrible and very dangerous. I was alone and scared. I had no money, no food to eat, and nowhere to sleep. I thought that if I could do whatever I wanted, I d be happy. But I was miserable. Millie was apologizing for all the bad things she had done. It is often our pride that refuses to say, I m sorry. We need to learn to humble ourselves and apologize for things that we do wrong. God wants us to do the same. When we repent by asking forgiveness of all our sins, God will always forgive us. Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, Acts 17:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Additional verses: Luke 5:31-32; 24:45-47, Acts 5:31; 20:21; 26:20, Romans 2:4, 2 Corinthians 7:9 and Revelation 3:19 Obedience Brings Happiness 14
When Millie went to bed that night, Papa and Mama wrapped their arms around her and said, We love you, Millie. We re so glad to have you back home again. As Mama tucked her into her warm, cozy bed, Millie replied, Thank you, Papa and Mama. I m so glad to be home. Now I m the happiest girl in the whole world! Millie learned the lesson the hard way that obedience to God s word about obeying parents brings happiness. But wise are those children who learn that lesson without going through all the troubles that Millie experienced. Psalm 112:1 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His commandments. Psalm 119:2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! Matthew 25:21 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. John 15:10-11 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father s commandments and abide in His love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. Rev. 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. Additional verses: Proverbs 29:18 and Luke 11:28 Questions 1. What kind of home did Millie live in? Millie lived in a nice house with Papa, Mama, and her older brother and sister, Willie and Betsy. Millie had lots of toys to play with, plenty of good food to eat, and a cozy bed to sleep in. 2. What did Millie say whenever Papa and Mama gave her chores to do? Whenever Papa or Mama gave Millie chores to do, she constantly complained, I always have to do the most work. 3. How did Millie s Papa and Mama feel about Millie constantly complaining that she always had the most work to do? Millie's constant complaining made Papa and Mama very sad because it was not true. But Millie did not care. In her mind, whatever she felt was unfair had to be true. And that was all that mattered to Millie. Millie was selfish. She did not care about others. However she felt, that had to be true. An unselfish person thinks and cares about others. The Bible says, Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. [4] Let each of 15
you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-7). 4. What did Millie say whenever she went to bed? Whenever Millie went to bed, she always grumbled, All my friends can stay up late watching TV, but I can t! Millie was not sure this was true, but that is the way she felt. When people make up stories, they are not telling the truth. If they are not telling the truth, then they are lying. The Bible has strong words to say about lying, Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight (Proverbs 12:22). 5. How did Millie want to play games with Willie and Betsy? Whenever Millie played games with Willie and Betsy, she always wanted to play according to her rules. 6. What did Willie and Betsy insist on? Willie and Betsy insisted, We need to play according to the rules of the game. 7. How did Millie react if she did not get her way? If Millie did not get her way, she would quit playing and yell, You re stubborn! You always want to play your way! Millie claimed her brother and sister were stubborn, but she was the one who was stubborn. The Bible says, For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry (1 Samuel 15:23). 8. What did Millie s mom say when Millie announced, I m going to the park to play? Mama warned her, It s dangerous for young girls to go alone to the park. 9. How did Millie react and say when Mama warned her, It s dangerous for young girls to go alone to the park. Millie cried, All my friends can go wherever they want. Why can t I? I can t do anything by myself! 10. When Millie complained, All my friends can go wherever they want. Why can t I? I can t do anything by myself! what did Mama say? Mama said to Millie, You need to trust us. 11. What did Millie do when Mama said, You need to trust us? Millie stomped out of the room mumbling, It s not fair! No one ever trusts me! Millie did not obey her parents. Children often get into lots of trouble because they stubbornly refuse to listen to their loving parents. Wise are those children who obey what the Bible says, Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord (Colossians 3:20). 12. What did Millie often do in school when the teacher was not looking? When the teacher was not looking, Millie often talked to the girl in front of her. 13. What would the teacher say when she saw Millie talking to Susie? The teacher would say, Millie! Stop talking to Susie. 14. What did Millie always say to Susie about being corrected by the teacher? Millie always complained to Susie, The teacher is so unfair. She only picks on me! 16
15. What did Millie say and do when Willie accidentally bumped her and said, I m sorry, it was an accident. Millie said, No, it wasn t. Then she picked up a stick and began hitting Willie on the head. Millie was unwilling to forgive her brother even though he said he is sorry and it was an accident. The Bible teaches that we are always to be willing to forgive others. The Scripture says, For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses, (Matthew 6:14-15). 16. What did Mama say and do to Millie when she hit her brother? Mama scolded Millie and said, Go to time-out right now! Tonight, you re going to bed early! Loving parents will discipline their children when they do wrong. Wise children will obey their parents so they will not have to be disciplined. The Bible says, He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly, (Proverbs 13:24). 17. What did Millie want to wear in order to be noticed in the wedding? Millie wanted to wear a red skirt, orange blouse and socks, blue shoes, green ribbons on her ears, and carry a yellow purse. 18. What did Millie do and say when her mother said, Millie, your clothes don t match. Millie put her hands on her hips and whined, Why can t I wear what I want? Everyone else wears whatever they want! 19. Millie constantly had something to grumble about. If anything bad happened to her, it was always someone else s fault. In her eyes, she never did anything wrong. As Millie lay in bed that night, she got so disgusted at how everyone was so mean and unfair to her that she got out of bed and made a list of her complaints. Name some of Millie s ten complaints. 1. I work harder than anyone around the house. 2. I go to bed earlier than all my friends. 3. No one ever plays by my rules. 4. I can t eat whatever I want. 5. I can t watch what I want on TV or the Internet. 6. My friends can go anywhere, but I can t. 7. Teachers only pick on me. 8. I m the only one who gets punished. 9. I can never wear clothes I like. 10. No one ever trusts me! 20. When Millie went to bed that night, what did she groan about as tears rolled down her cheeks? That night, with tears rolling down her cheeks, Millie groaned, Everyone hates me! Papa, Mama, Willie, Betsy, friends, teachers EVERYONE! I can t do anything I want. It s so unfair! No one has it as bad as I do. I m the most miserable girl in the whole world! Millie s constant complaining made her more and more miserable. The Bible teaches us, Do all things without complaining and disputing, [15] that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:14-15). 21. What did Millie decide to do about all her problems? Millie decided to run away from home. 17
22. Millie became very excited thinking about all the fun things she could do. What did Millie say about all the fun things she could do? Millie said, I can watch whatever I want on TV. I can go to bed anytime. I can dress the way I like. I can eat anything I want. I can go to any park whenever I wish, and no one can stop me! I ll be free at last! 23. Where did Millie get her money from? Millie got her money from emptying her piggy bank and stealing money from her mother s purse. The Bible says, You shall not steal (Exodus 20:15). 24. What did Millie do and say when she was a few blocks from her home? When Millie was a few blocks from her home, she threw her arms into the air and proclaimed, Free! Free! Free at last! Now I can do whatever I want. This is the happiest day of my life! 25. What did Millie sing as she went skipping down the road to the bus station? As Millie went skipping down the road to the bus station, she began singing, I m so happy! I m so happy! 26. What did Millie say to the waitress when she went to a restaurant for breakfast? When Millie went to a restaurant for breakfast she said to the waitress, I want a large hot fudge sundae with lots of whipped cream. 27. What happened to Millie an hour later? An hour later Millie had a stomachache. Millie did not care about eating healthy food, she cared only for food that tasted good. She ended up with a stomachache. The Bible says, Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? [20] For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God s (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ). Since our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, God wants us to eat properly so we can have a healthy body in order to honor him. 28. Where did Millie say when she decided to go to the city park to find a place to sleep? When Millie decided to go to the city park to find a place to sleep, she said, Mama never trusted me to make my own decisions, but now I can go anywhere I want, and no one can stop me! 29. What did a group of boys do? A group of boys ran after her. 30. A. What did the policeman say to Millie. The policeman said to Millie, It s dangerous for kids to be alone in the park. I ll walk you out of the park. B. Before this Millie hated police. How did Millie now feel? Now Millie was glad to see a police officer. C. Why are police like friends? Police officers are friends because they want to protect us. Some people do not like police because they are disobeying the law. Those obeying the laws have nothing to fear. The Bible says, Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every 18
good work (Titus 3:1). Miserable Millie 31. Where did Millie finally find a place to sleep? Millie slept on a park bench. 32. What did Millie eat for breakfast the next day? Millie ordered orange juice, eggs, toast, and milk the same food her mother often served for breakfast. 33. Millie had only a few pennies left. As she walked around the city she was miserable. What did Millie hope to find while she walked around? Millie hoped to find some money. 34. What did Millie say to herself when some street girls wanted her to join them. When some street girls wanted her to join them, she said to herself, I don t want to live like that. Our media floods our society with immorality. The Bible has much to say about sexual temptations, and children need to be aware of these evils. According to the situation and the age of the children, use appropriate discretion when teaching about this subject. The Bible says, Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites (1 Corinthians 6:9). 35. In order to be safe, where did Millie end up sleeping? Millie slept in a cardboard box behind an old factory. 36. As Millie lay in the cardboard box, what did she say and think about? A. home? Millie, with tears streaming down her face, said, Ohhh!!! How I wish I were safe in my bed. Now I m all alone and scared. B. stealing money? Millie said, Why was I so foolish to steal money from Mama s purse and run away from home? C. father and mother? Millie said, Now Papa and Mama will never want me back. 37. What were Papa and Mama doing everyday? Papa and Mama were searching everyday for Millie. 38. What did Papa say about searching for Millie? Papa said, We re going to search for her until we find her. 39. What did Papa, Mama, Willie, and Betsy do to find Millie? Papa, Mama, Willie, and Betsy put signs up all over town offering a reward for anyone finding Millie. Millie made a big mistake. She thought that because she stole from her parents, her parents would not love her. Children need to be aware that even when their parents punish them for their evil deeds, they still love them. Parents punish children in hopes that their children will not repeat their evil behavior. The Bible says about judging, Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven (Luke 6:37). 40. The next day there was freezing rain. What did Millie find in the shopping mall to eat? Millie found a half-eaten sandwich that a sick person had eaten. 41. What happened to Millie as she went to bed that night? 19
Millie lay in her cardboard box moaning, shivering, and throwing up. It was the most miserable night she had ever had. She cried and cried until she could cry no longer. 42. What did Millie do when she saw some candy and didn t have any money? When Millie saw some candy and didn t have any money, she stole the candy. 43. What did the police officer do to Millie for stealing the candy? A police officer took Millie to the police station and called her parents. 44. What did Papa do when he saw Millie? When Papa saw Millie, he ran to her and gave her a giant hug. With tears streaming down his face, Papa said, We love you, Millie. We re so glad we found you. 45. What did Mama do when she saw Millie? When Mama saw Millie she wrapped her arms around her and began kissing her and saying over and over, We re so happy to see you. 46. What were the police officers glad about? The police officers were glad they had saved another girl from the streets. When Millie ran away, she said, Everyone hates me! Papa, Mama, Willie, Betsy, friends, teachers EVERYONE! Notice how untrue that was. Millie had a false picture of what was happening. In reality, Papa, Mama, Willie, Betsy, and the police officers all loved Millie. The Bible teaches that we should always love others. In Galatians 5:14 it says, For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 47. What did Millie say about how she acted when she got home? With tears streaming down her face Millie confessed, I m so sorry for stealing and for all the bad things I ve done. Papa, Mama, I was very foolish for not listening and trusting you. Millie is apologizing for all the bad things she had done. God wants us to do the same. When we repent by asking forgiveness for all our sins, God will always forgives us. The Bible says, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). 48. What did Millie say about her experience of living on the streets? Millie said, Living on the streets was terrible and very dangerous. I was alone and scared. I had no money, no food to eat, and nowhere to sleep. I thought that if I could do whatever I wanted, I d be happy. But I was miserable. 49. What did Mama and Papa do and say when Millie went to bed that night? When Millie went to bed that night, Papa and Mama wrapped their arms around her and said, We love you, Millie. We re so glad to have you back home again. 50. What did Millie say as Mama tucked her into her warm, cozy bed? As Mama tucked Millie into her warm, cozy bed, Millie said, Thank you, Papa and Mama. I m so glad to be home. Now I m the happiest girl in the whole world! Millie learned the hard way that obedience to God s word about obeying parents brings happiness. But wise are those children who learn that lesson without going through all the troubles that Millie experienced. The Bible says, If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father s commandments and abide in His love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full (John 15:10-11). 20