THE THREE CONVERTIBLES

I would like to tell you a story about three convertible cars. Do you know what a convertible car is?  It is a very fancy car.  Its roof goes up and down. On a sunny warm day you would love to drive around with the roof down, but on a rainy day you want to make sure that your roof is up. 

Have you ever seen one on the road?  Why look now, here comes Mr. White Convertible with his roof down.  He is so proud, singing to himself, " I am the most beautiful car on the road.  There is no other car like me.  My roof goes up and down.  Just look at me, I'm the greatest car on the road!!"

Following right behind Mr. White  was Mr. Red and Mr. Yellow Convertible.   Mr. white was so in love with himself that he didn't even see the other two convertibles. Mr.White was singing his song about how wonderful he was when all of a sudden, he missed the turn in the road and crashed right into a telephone pole.

Mr. Red drove up quickly to see if there was anything he could do to help. "Mr. White, convertible you are a wreck!  Can I do anything to help you?"

"Me, a wreck. How can you ever say that.  I am the most beautiful, handsome, smartest, fastest convertible on the the road.  There is no other convertible like me.  I don't need your help" said Mr. white proudly.

"But, but... Mr. White you are a mess.  You need help!"  Mr Red tried to tell him, but Mr. White just wouldn't listen, so Mr. Red drove off and left Mr. White convertibles singing his song wrapped around a telephone post. 

Later, Mr. Yellow convertible drove up to see if he could help.  "Mr White convertible, what happened to you?  You are a wreck!" 

"I don't need your help thank you.  I am doing just fine."

"But...but.. you don't understand!".

But, nothing Mr. Yellow convertible.  You are just jealous because you aren't as handsome as I am."

There wasn't a thing that Mr. Red or Mr. Yellow  could do, so they called the police for a tow truck to come and take Mr. White away to the junk yard.  Even as he was being driven away, he was still singing to himself. "Look at me.  I am the most handsome, cleanest, greatest, and beautiful convertible in the whole world!!!!!"



Boys and girls,have you ever thought you didn't need any help?   That you could do everything all by yourself? Or that you are the prettiest, most handsome, and smartest person in the whole world?  

Have you ever thought, that you didn't want anyone telling you what to do?  If you have, that is called pride, and you will be heading for the junk yard.  You weren't created for the junk yard.  You were created to know and to love your Creator, the Lord Jesus. 

When you ask Jesus to live in your heart, He will make sure that you never will go to the junk yard. In His Kingdom there is NO PRIDE, because there is only one person who is the greatest and that is JESUS.  He loves you and wants you to live with Him. Why don't you ask your mommy or daddy about Jesus and how He can live in your heart. You don't want to be a Mr. White Convertible.  
 

Shimo

An Iditarod

 In the state of Alaska, teams of husky dogs are trained to race 1,000 miles across frozen ice and snow. It is called  the Iditarod, a very serious competition in the middle of the winter.  The lead dog is the most important dog on the team.  His leadership and obedience to his master will determine whether they win or lose.

Shimo was a champion Eskimo lead dog.  He loved to lead and had led his team of sixteen huskies to strong finishes in the last  three Iditiarods.  Ever since he was a young husky, Shimo had the heart to win and the drive to work hard. His trainer, Skilley and Shimo were inseparable.  Day and night they worked hard to be ready for the next run. Shimo's greatest problem was his pride.  He only wanted to be the lead dog, but he was getting older and his legs were crippling.with arthritis.

Jaco and Shimo

Shimo was having trouble working out with younger dogs. Skilley had no alternative then to start training another lead dog. He choose Jaco.  A young Husky, who was strong and was outrunning Shimo in practice.

In the Spring, when Skilly started training his dogs, he had to make a decision, if he should put Jaco in the lead and try Shimo in the pack. Shimo wanted nothing to do with it.  He did not like running with the other dogs and was very jealousy of Jaco taking his place.  Shimo would start fights with Jaco and refused to obey.


The day of the Iditarod was only a week away, Skilley, in order to save the team, had to take Shimo out of the pack.  It broke his heart, but he had no other choice.Shimo had been his very best lead dog for the last five years He had led his team to the finish line many times. If only Shimo wasn't so proud and would accept. his place on the team,, but he didn't.  He just wanted to be first and it cost him the very thing he loved the most, to run in the Iditarod.  Besides, people were financially supporting Skilley's team and expecting him to win this year.  

Shimo wrapped in his blanket

On the day of the Iditarod, Skilley had no alternative than to leave Shimo home.  He wrapped him in  a blanket and tried to settle him down. Shimo knew something wasn't right.  He heard all the others dogs barking excitedly, it had to be the run.  Shimo started to bark  and whine, but Skilley tried not to pay any attention.  It was very hard for him to hear Shimo crying.  Skilley was going to miss Shimo.  He knew how much he wanted  to run.   After hitching up his dogs and packing, Skilley went back for one last hug. "Shimo," said Skilley, 'I know that you don't understand, but it has to be this way.  Maybe you will learn to let Jaco lead and than you can go next year."


Skilley's heart was heavy leaving Shimo at home. About six hours later, Shimo couldn't stand it any more.  He pulled his stake out of the ground and jumped over the fence and headed for the trial.  The only problem was,, it was snowing and all of the tracks were covered.  Shimo thought he knew his way anyway and kept going.

Skilley and the team had finished their first,day, when they got a text from home. "Shimo was missing.  Beiieved to be out looking for you." Skilley's heart sank.  He couldn't  finish the race.  He had to find Shimo  He turned his team around and headed for home. Shimo was more important than winning the iditiarod

The snow was  heavy and Skilley was getting more and more  concerned .  Shimo had now been out in the cold already for a day without any food or water. As they were heading back to home, Shelly noticed somthing that looked like a rock in the middle of the trail..  Could it be Shimo? Skilley hurried , "Mush you Huskies" he shouted..  Quickly, Skilley brushed the snow off the object and there frozen in the snow lay Skimo. Skilley cried and cried as he picked up Shimo, tears streaming down his face. In Shimo's desperate effort to find his master.  Shilley, was caught in the storm and froze to death. He put his champion lead dog on his sled saying, "Oh Shimo, Shimo how much I loved you. Why wouldn't you trust me? You were getting older and I wanted to save your strength so I could enjoy you .  I miss you, I miss you so much.

When Skilley arrived back home everyone was so surprised to hear about Shimo's death. The whole town grieved and mourned his passing.. Shimo had won three Iditiarods and had become a hero.  Skilley didn't finish the Iditiarod that year, instead he created a huge snow statue of the great Shimo for the towns people to celebrate his life..

This is the snow sculpture that Skilley created to honor Skimo

Mr. Sun's Sad Day

Mr. Sun was usually the first one to rise in the morning. Mr. Moon was going  to bed and the clouds were still on their vacation. It was a beautiful day,  with not a cloud in the sky. Mr. Sun loved these kind of days.  People in the village would praise his beauty and tell him how happy they were to be able to work outside or to go the beach.  It thrilled Mr. Sun's heart to hear people say  nice things about him, until one day, a very sad thing happened.  The cloud family were returning from their vacation and Mr. Sun was not very happy about that.


As the cloud family began to appear, Mr. Sun was hoping that he might be able to talk with Mr. Moon before he went to bed.  He always was very encouraging and a  good friend of Mr. Sun. Mr.Moon saw how sad his friend was and asked,"What ever is the matter Mr.Sun?  Why I have never seen you so sad." "Oh nothing,' said Mr. Sun discouragingly 'you can see for yourself that I am not wanted."  "Now, you know that is not true, Mr. Sun. You must be patient and wait your turn, explained Mr. Moon.


Mr. Moon left to get ready for bed when the Star family passed by and noticed how sad Mr. Sun was. Mrs.Star spoke, "What is wrong with you Mr. Sun. Have you forgotten that you are always the cheery one around here/"  "Not any more',said Mr. Sun, "I haven't heard anyone say anything nice about me for days." Mrs. Star tried to tell him that he was the reason for their twinkle, but he didn't pay any attention. Unable to cheer up Mr. Sun ,the Star family went on their way.  


Later that day, Mrs. Rainbow appeared asking  "Why are you so sad Mr. Sun? "  Mr. Sun hung his head and said , "You can't possible  understand Mrs. Rainbow.  I am just not wanted around here any more." "Why, I am ashamed of you, Mr. Sun. You know that it is not true. I thought by now that you would learned how important you are to me. Just this morning a  little baby cloud fell down and nearly lost all his tears, you helped me to make a most gorgeous colorful rainbow in the sky,"explained Mrs. Rainbow. "I don't remember that Mrs. Rainbow, said Mr. Sun, sadly."  Mrs. Rainbow continued,  " I knew you wouldn't remember.  You were so into yourself, you weren't thinking of anyone else..  I think you should  go over and see how the little Cloud is doing after his fall.." replied Mrs. Rainbow. At her suggestion, Mr. Sun left to find
where the Cloud family was gathering.  He found them at the end of the Milky Way.


"Good afternoon, Mr. Cloud, I heard that your little baby had a serious fall.  Is he all right now? asked Mr. Sun inquisitively "Thank you for asking, Mr.Sun. He nearly scared us to death. He had never fallen like that before. Is there anything we can do for you Mr.Sun?"  "No, no one can help me. It seems that I am not really needed around here any more," Mr. Sun sadly answered.


"Now, you know that is not true, Mr. Sun.  You are the most needed one in our whole community.  Without you our cloud family would not exist.  When you are out all the time, everyone is so happy that you are shinning. We hear all your compliments, but nobody hardly ever wants to see us.  They run inside and complain that we are around.  Mr. Sun, don't you see how important it is to understand that we both are needed.We were created to help each other, not to think we are the most important. It has taken me a long time to believe it." said Mr Cloud humbly
 
Mr. Sun thought to himself and had to agree, "You are right, Mr. Cloud.  I think I have been much too proud, only thinking about myself, wanting every one to just praise me.. Please forgive me Mr. Cloud and I hope you and your family will have another enjoyable vacation soon"  Mr.Sun was beginning to  mellow.   "Oh, we will have a great vacation, Mr Sun.  You may not believe this, but when you are shining, we are able to gather every thing we need for our next important job and we have you to thank for it." 

Mr. Sun, finally understood that his bad attitude in his own heart was his biggest problem.  Right after he repented and started to think about others, what do you think he started to hear?  You are right. The village people were so excited to see the sun again, they began to go outside, saying to one another, look Mr.Sun is back. It is going to be a beautiful afternoon .Now, we can work outside or go to the beach." From that day forward, Mr. Sun never complained about a cloudy day.  He was very grateful that he was an important part of the Creator's plan to keep the earth beautiful.

Missy the Mouse Has Nose Trouble

Missy was a little happy  field mouse, who had a big nose problem. It wasn't red, short or long, it was stuck up!  Every where she went, she walked with her nose stuck up in the air.  All her friends would say to her,"Missy, you think you are so great. That nose of yours is going to get you into big trouble."  Missy never listened to any of their chatter, she just kept walking around with her nose stuck high  in the air. Missy was proud.  She thought she knew everything. She didn't want anyone to tell her what to do. She thought she was the best in everything: whether it was  playing the piano, or running a race, or swinging on a swing, Missy thought she could do it better then anyone else. Missy never listened or wanted to learn anything . She thought she was smarter than her mother, her father and even her grandparents.  With her nose stuck high in the air, she walked around the green meadow as if she was the most important mouse in the village. She didn't have many friends, and the ones she did have tried and tried to tell her that she was too proud and that some day she was going to stumble over her stuck up nose.

Missy never believed anyone and continued to walk around totally deceived about herself. She thought she was the prettiest, the smartest and most talented mouse in the green forest.. Until one day when she was walking down a path thinking how wonderful she was, she stumbled and fell into a deep chipmunk hole. Down, down , down she tumbled, head over heels ending up at the door of Chipper, the Chipmunk.Chipper heard the bump against his door and went to open it. "What are you doing down her Missy? For a cute little field mouse, you are a mess. What happened?"  Missy tried to explain, "Chipper, it is like this.  I was walking along the path and I fell into your hole."  Chipper knew that there had to be more to her story. "Missy, weren't you watching where you were going.?" asked Chipper. It was than that Missy remembered   what her mother once told her, "Missy, if you don't stopped thinking you are so great and walking around with your nose stuck up in the air, you are going to fall into a chipmunk hole and flatten your nose!."  Sure enough it was flattened and very badly bruised. Chipper explained to her ,"You have to watch out for the holes in the Green Forest.. There are groundhog holes, mole holes and hundreds of chipmunk holes. You can't have your nose up in the air." 

I think Missy had learn an important lesson .  From that day on, she never walked again with her nose stuck up in the air.. Now, she was able look all around and see  the other little mice, who were just as talented as she was and in many cases even smarter. Missy had learned that pride comes before a fall.