4 WEEK Choosing to do what you should even when you don't want to Proverbs 25:16 MEMORY VERSE 2 Peter 1:3a Si could barely contain his excitement as his mother parked and they made their way through a forest of movie set trailers. Do you think I ll get my own trailer? he asked. You ll share a trailer with all the other kids, his mom said. We ll be lucky to have a place to sit. Yeah, but I mean, I m the star, right? prompted Si. You don t have any lines, Si, Mom pointed out. But I get to be Ward Dean! Si exclaimed. Si had landed a role in action star Ward Dean s latest adventure film. He would be playing Ward s character as a boy. True, he had no lines to speak. But Si would get to wear a cool 80s costume and ride a bike down the street. You got the role because you can ride a bike and you look a bit like Ward Dean, his mom said dryly. I m gonna be just like him when I grow up! Si announced. Mom raised an eyebrow. He s a good actor. But he s not exactly known for his... self-control. Si and his mom were greeted by Lily, a frazzled PA with a headset and clipboard. What s a PA? wondered Si. 1
Production assistant, Lily explained. Let me show you hair and makeup Si frowned. I have to wear makeup? All the actors do, Lily told him. Even Ward? asked Si in surprise. Lily nodded, and Si hurried to catch up with her. I ll get to meet him, right? he asked. Maybe, but he s not on set till later, said Lily. Now, here s your trailer. Your scene is slated for 10, so we need you in the makeup chair in... 15 minutes. Oh, and there s craft services. She waved toward an area where tall heaters stood around several big tables. Si crossed his arms. I don t like doing crafts. Lily laughed. Craft services on a movie set is catering. Food. A massive bowl of peanut M&Ms, Si s favorite, sat right in the middle. We ll get a snack before makeup, his mom told him. Lily bustled off and Si checked out the craft services tables with awe. There were sandwiches and pizza, cookies and donuts, and every kind of chip he d ever seen. Wow! he exclaimed. A massive bowl of peanut M&Ms, Si s favorite, sat right in the middle. He grinned, grabbed a scoop, and shoveled M&Ms onto his plate. Slow down there, his mom laughed. A few M&Ms are fine, but eat a banana, too, okay? 2
Si downed a banana after his M&Ms. But before they headed back to the trailer, he snuck more peanut M&Ms. Don t ruin your lunch, his mom warned. But peanuts are good for you, right? Si pointed out. After Si was in makeup and ready to go, Lily rushed in. Your scene is delayed, she told them. But it was supposed to be now! protested Si. That s the way things are on set, Lily explained. Hurry up and wait. It s fine, said Mom. Si, you can finish your math homework. But Si couldn t concentrate. There was too much going on. I m gonna take a walk, he said. I ll stay where you can see me. Well... okay, his mom agreed. Si s walk just happened to take him past craft services. Where he scooped a few more M&Ms. He took a few more on the way back. And then he filled a snack cup with M&Ms on his way to the bathroom ten minutes later. And grabbed some more on his way back. He scooped another handful when he went out to meet the dog that would be in his scene. And he dipped into the bowl once more on the way back. Si popped the last M&M in his mouth as he entered the trailer. His mom looked up sharply. We should grab lunch before she began, and stopped as Si suddenly doubled over. Are you okay? she asked. Si s queasy stomach informed him that he was not okay. I, um... I... 3
Just how many M&Ms did you eat? his mom demanded just as Lily flung open the door. Quick! she cried. They need you on set right now! Oh, I... Si tried to speak. I m a little You ll do just fine, Lily assured him as she rushed them out the door. Within moments, Si found himself on set under a blaze of lights. His stomach churned and his head ached as he desperately tried to follow instructions, wheeling the banana-seat Huffy bike into place. The director, a scruffy man with big ears, barked out directions. You ll start right here, ride straight up the street, turn the corner, got it? Okay... in three... two... one... Si started to pedal, but the road swam before him. Straighten up! shouted the director. You okay, kid? asked a deep voice. There was nothing Si could do. He veered to the curb, ditched the bike and emptied his stomach onto the pavement. You okay, kid? asked a deep voice. Si glanced up, wretched and miserable, to find the man he d seen on dozens of movie posters: Ward Dean. All Si could mumble was, Too many M&Ms. Got carried away with crafty, huh? said Ward, and then called out, Someone get a towel. 4
Humiliated, Si headed back to the trailer for a costume change while the whole crew waited. He stayed as far away from the M&Ms as he could. Si! You ve got to learn when to stop! his mom warned. I think... I just did, groaned Si. Si had discovered this truth from Proverbs the hard way: If you find honey, eat just enough. If you eat too much of it, you will throw up. Let s Talk! Knowing when to stop doesn t just apply to food. It means that any good thing, like spending time on the beach in the hot sun or playing your favorite video game, can cause trouble if you go too far. Can you recall a time when you took a good thing too far? Share your stories with each other. God has given us lots of good things to enjoy. But even a good thing can turn sour if you don t know when to stop. You can get sunburned at the beach, or you can stay up so late playing a game that you re tired and grouchy the next day. Ask God to give each of you the wisdom and power to know when to stop... and to do it. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL READER S VERSION 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. 2018 The rethink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. 5