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Hook and Ladder Lesson
by Peter D. Mallett (Peter's bio)
"Dad, you remember Derrick from school right?" asked Adam.
"Yes, I remember him all right. He's the one who lives in that big house downtown right? The one who is always getting into trouble with school and even the police once."
"Well yes, that's Derrick all right. Did you know he has the whole collection of fire trucks that I have been collecting? The hook and ladder trucks, the ones with the working hoses and everything. All ten of them. His parents bought the whole set. I know I have been saving and you want me to buy them one at a time. Yet it sure would be nice to see the whole collection."
"Son, you know that we let you go there for Derrick's birthday party because there was enough adult supervision, but I don't like Derrick's attitude. I do not want you to go to his house alone. I don't want him to drag you into trouble."
"Dad, I know how you feel about Derrick's influence. I was just saying it would be neat to see all of them together like in the magazine."
"You will have them in time, Adam."
Dad went back to looking at his magazine and Adam knew he wouldn't change his mind. Two days later Derrick's asked Adam if he would like to see the collection of the trucks.
Derrick said his parents would not be there so they could do whatever they wanted.
"Plus we have plenty of snacks," promised Derrick.
Adam knew he shouldn't go, but he did anyway. They walked down the street near the school and turned left. Just then Derrick noticed a bicycle that was left out in a yard. Derrick jumped on. "It's kind of far to walk, hop on and I'll ride us there."
"Do you know whose bike this is Derrick?"
"No, but we are just going to borrow it."
Adam got on. Derrick rode as fast as he could and Adam felt troubled all the way to the house. Suddenly he jerked the bicycle to a stop in front of his house.
"Hey I wonder what's been going on in the news today," remarked Derrick.
Derrick quickly ran over and took his neighbor's newspaper.
"I don't buy the paper I just read my neighbors every once in a while. He has no idea who is taking it."
Adam knew for sure that was not right. When they got inside the house Derrick went to the kitchen which was full of chips and mini-snack cakes and sodas. Derrick offered some to Adam. He took some chips. Yet he didn't feel much like eating even his favorite kind right now. He knew he shouldn't be there. He also knew there might be trouble for the things Derrick had done. He remembered that Derrick had been in trouble with the police once. The soda didn't seem to taste real good either because his stomach beginning to feel queasy.
"Come on the trucks are in the other room. Here they are. The whole collection. I told you my Mom and Dad got all of them for me, but really they couldn't find the last hook and ladder one in the stores during the holidays. Then one day I saw a kid one day with the very one that I needed.
"So you bought it from him?" Adam hoped.
"No, I beat him up and I took it. Hey, you want to watch some TV?"
Adam really didn't feel good now. He made an excuse about not being home late and hurried off. In fact, he hurried all the way home. When he got home his dad was outside watering the garden. Adam told his Dad that he'd disobeyed and gone to Derrick's. Dad was not happy about that.
Then Adam told him everything else that happened. Adam told his Dad, "Derrick had a lot of things at his house but I didn't feel good about being there. I didn't even feel like eating there."
"Adam," his father began, "that was God letting you know what you were doing wasn't right. You have been studying proverbs right?"
"Yes, Dad."
"Did you know that there is a proverb that addresses what you have discovered? Proverbs seventeen, verse one. It says, 'Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.' Strife means trouble and loss of peace. It is better to have a few things and have peace than a lot of things and lots of trouble to go with it."
"You can say that again, Dad. You sure can say that again."
Copyright 2002, Peter D. Mallett. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
| About Peter D. Mallett: I live in Virginia near the ocean. In a few minutes I can be at the beach but I can't quite hear waves from my house. I love God. I like writing, drawing, and taking pictures. I don't have a wife or kids right now but I enjoy talking with kids. Kids have bright things to say and they are not afraid to try things like peanut butter and banana sandwiches. E-mail Peter |