As far as potatoes go,

There’s one thing you should know,

You don’t want to be a later tater.

You’ve heard of tater tots before,

And the mashed potatoes that I adore,

But have you heard of a later tater?

You’ve heard of a demonstrator,

Maybe a reconciliator,

Perhaps you’ve filled a radiator,

But have you heard of a later tater?

What’s a later tater, you say?

It’s someone who’s late every day.

That’s what we call a later tater.

But I’ll tell you something that’s really fine,

Someone who is always on time.

So please don’t be a later tater.

---

Punctuality

Punctuality has nothing to do with “punching.” Punctuality means being on time. Someone who is punctual is considerate of other people by arriving when they said they would.

Did you know that Jesus said He is coming back to earth? He never said exactly when He would come again, but you can trust that at the right time, He is coming back. The angels who were with Him when he ascended into heaven after He rose from the dead said, “This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.” (Acts 1:11).

There once lived a boy who never quit eating,

His name was Franklin Johnson Keating.

He ate all his veggies.

He ate all his greens.

He ate up his broccoli,

And then ate his beans.

Then went the potatoes,

With butter on top.

There goes the tomatoes,

With a gulp and a pop.

He gobbled up a steak,

And then went a roll.

Then he slurped up his soup.

Then he ate his bowl!

There goes his spoon.

There goes his plate.

Then with a smile,

The tablecloth he ate.

This may seem unreal,

Kind of like a fable,

But next he ate–believe it or not,

His own kitchen table.

Then the curtains went,

In a big, sloppy slurp.

There goes the sink,

With a belch and a burp.

Wait! Here comes his dad,

Carrying a big box.

Full of his sister’s,

Old, dirty socks.

Franklin opens wide,

And, swoosh, there it goes,

Down to his belly,

Before the smell hits his nose.

Then Franklin freezes,

And gives a little moan.

“I think I’m done now,”

He says with a groan.

“I feel kind of green.

I don’t feel right.

I think I’ve lost,

My appetite.”

---

Moderation

Moderation means that you know when to stop. So just because you can eat twelve candy bars, doesn’t mean that you should eat twelve candy bars. Moderation draws a line that says, “Even though I can do something, too much of it, even if it’s good, can be bad for me.” Some people have trouble eating too much, watching too much TV, or playing too many video games. These are just a few examples of where some people might need to show more moderation.

In the Bible 1 Corinthians 6:12 says, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of anything.”

If there was no gravity,

Your dog could fly.

He’d need no wings,

To jump to the sky.

There he goes, up real high.

Wait! He’s going too far.

Time to say Good-bye.

If there was no night,

You’d never have to go to bed.

You’d never see the moon, all right,

And never lay down your head.

Wait! It would always be light, you say?

And no dreaming would be creepy?

Suddenly, I think I’ll take a nap.

I’m feeling kind of sleepy.

What if dogs could talk,

And frogs taught school?

What if a dragon lived,

In your swimming pool?

What if the sky was green,

And we all ate trees?

What if we had twelve legs,

And twenty-four knees?

What if people lived,

under the ground?

And could dig as fast,

As the speed of sound?

What if people lived,

A million years?

And we never cried,

Cause we had no tears?

What if we could fly to the sky,

And on a cloud, build a town?

What if, instead of growing up,

People grew down?

If all this were true,

It would cause a big fuss.

But what if God,

Didn’t love us?

That would scare me more,

Than the world’s biggest rat.

But I’m so glad,

I don’t have to worry about that.

---

Certainty

There are a lot of “what ifs” and questions in life, but there are some things that you never have to question such as: God will always love you. The Bible will always be true. Jesus will never let you down. And when bad things happen, here’s a promise to which you can cling. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” So, have no fear, Jesus is near.

I went to a restaurant,

To get some soup.

Finally it came,

And I took a big scoop,

But in my spoon,

Was something green.

I said, “Is that a turtle,

Or a big, fat bean?”

Then out came four little feet,

And one little head.

“Hello,” it spoke.

“Hello,” I said.

I went to a restaurant,

To eat some Chicken Noodle,

But in my soup bowl,

I found a little poodle.

He was real small,

The size of my thumb,

So I pulled him out,

And fed him a crumb.

I went back to that restaurant,

And ordered the Clam Chowder,

And when it came out,

I had to laugh a little louder.

I couldn’t help,

I had to laugh,

Cause in my bowl,

Was a tiny giraffe.

I ate at that restaurant,

For three years and a day.

Then I opened a zoo,

And made people pay,

To come and see,

All the tiny beasts,

I had pulled from my soup,

During all those feasts.

---

Trusting God

Finding a turtle in your soup is a pretty bad thing, but in the story the little bad things that kept happening turned out for the good. If you have given your life to Jesus and are walking with Him, you can trust God that He is able to turn any bad thing that happens to you to your good. Listen to the Bible in Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.”

Beans, beans, cried the child,

Bring them spicy! Bring them mild!

Beans, beans, give me some more.

And if I don’t get them, then I’ll be sore!

Beans, beans, bring ‘em on a bun.

I’m still eating. I’m not done.

Beans, beans, pour me more, dad.

And if I don’t get them, I’ll be mad!

Beans, beans, bring ‘em while their cold.

Bring ‘em while they’re fresh. Bring ‘em when they’re old.

Beans, beans, I’m ready to eat.

Give me my beans. They’re a treat!

Beans, beans, bring ‘em on bread

I’ll eat them on chips. I’ll eat them in bed!

Beans, beans, I’ll take them in a stew.

I’ll eat ‘em with pickles and cucumbers too.

Beans, beans, if I don’t get them I’ll scream!

I’ll put them on cookies and in my ice cream.

Beans, beans, hot or cold, I don’t care.

Bring me some more and more if you dare.

Beans, beans, they’re almost all gone,

But I’m still hungry so keep piling them on.

Beans, beans–Wait! Something is rumbling.

I think it’s too late. My stomach is tumbling.

Beans, beans–Boy, this’ll spoil it.

I think I now need to run to the toilet!

---

Self-Control

Someone who has self-control is able to control his thoughts and appetites. For example, if the boy in the story would have had self-control, he would have been able to control his desire for more beans. But self-control goes far beyond the dinner table. God wants you to have the kind of self-control where you resist bad thoughts, wrong desires and temptations and always do what is right instead.

The Bible says in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…”

Oh please, oh please put on your shoe.

Oh we, oh woo, oh we, oh woo,

The smell you’ve let into the air,

Has just changed the color of my hair.

Oh we, oh woo, oh we, oh woo,

Oh please, oh please put on your shoe.

My eyes are burning. I cannot see.

Don’t you notice what you’ve done to me?

You see that green cloud hanging about,

That’s the odor your shoes have let out.

Oh we, oh woo, oh we, oh woo,

Oh please, oh please put on your shoe.

From the moment you took those dirty shoes off,

I’ve sputtered. I’ve gasped.

I’ve stuttered. I’ve coughed.

The room is spinning. I fear I’ll fall.

Could this be the end of it all?

Oh we, oh woo, oh we, oh woo,

Oh please, oh please put on your shoe.

Don’t you realize that what you do,

Affects more people than just you.

So please, I say, put on your shoe,

I beg you now and I beg again,

So this poem can finally end.

---

Consideration

Someone who is considerate shows personal care and concern for others and how his actions might affect them. Jesus wants us to be considerate of the people around us, and the best way to show care and concern for others is to tell them about Jesus. Your actions, such as telling people that Jesus loves them, may affect them not only today or tomorrow, but forever in heaven.

The Bible says in Ephesians 5:15, “Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise.” Be careful how you live and always do your best to be polite and kind to all people.

There’s only one way into the bathroom.

Only one way, I say.

There’s only one door,

Unless, of course,

You dug through the floor.

There’s only two ways into the bathroom.

Only two ways, I say,

You could come through the door,

Or you could dig through the floor.

But what about the ceiling?

What if someone fell?

There’s three ways into the bathroom,

But only three, I can tell.

Unless you had a big hammer,

And burst through the wall,

And made for yourself,

A brand new hall.

Okay, that’s four ways into the bathroom,

But there’s only four, I say.

But there are four walls?

Okay! Fine! That makes seven!

There are lots of ways into the bathroom,

But there’s only one way to heaven.

---

Being a Christian

All “Christians” are going to heaven, but not everyone is a Christian. A Christian is someone who has given his life to Jesus. A person doesn’t become a Christian by going to church. A person doesn’t become a Christian by being baptized and just because someone’s parents are Christians doesn’t mean he’s one too. Even being good can’t get a person into heaven. There’s only one way: By giving your life to Jesus, which is the best decision anyone can ever make.

In Bible in John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”

What if your sandwich could talk,

And it grew legs and then it could walk?

Then arms grew out each side,

And it wanted to run and play and hide?

Would you share your toys with him,

And let him be your friend?

Would you share with him your kazoo,

Even though he’s different from you?

Or would you call him names and be mean,

And not let him jump on your trampoline,

And not invite him to your birthday too,

Just because he’s different than you?

You’re a person with a body and a head,

And he’s a sandwich with two pieces of bread.

You’ve a neck, a chest and a belly.

But he’s full of peanut butter and jelly.

How could the two of you ever get along?

But does that mean it’s okay to treat him wrong?

And if he bothered you and you were hungry that day,

Would you eat him to make him go away?

Yes, this is silly—I know that it is true,

But in life you’ll meet people who are different than you.

And although I doubt you ever really meet,

A peanut butter sandwich walking down the street,

Just remember the point of what I am giving

And always do right, as long as you are living.

---

Obedience

Someone who is obedient does what is right even if everyone else is doing what is wrong. So the next time your friends say something mean about someone who is different than you, remember how Jesus wants you to treat others. Jesus said in the Bible in Matthew 7:12, “…whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them.” In other words, treat others the way you want them to treat you.

Do you want Marcus to stomp on your toes,

Or stick his little finger up your nose,

Or squirt you with a water hose,

Or tell your secrets so everyone knows?

Do you want Thomas to tell a lie,

So that it hurts your feelings and makes you cry,

Or throw sand in your face that gets in your eye,

Or say you’re a real mean, nasty guy?

Would you like for Christy to throw food in your drink,

Or to tell the world that your feet stink,

Or knock you down at the skating rink,

Or call you a name like a Lying Fink?

Do you like it when friends don’t follow through,

With promises they made to you,

Or in your chair, they pour some glue,

So your pants get stuck and you can’t stand when your through?

Do you like for others to cheat at a game,

Or do something wrong and then give you the blame,

Or call you a real hurtful name?

Then why would you do to them the same?

If you don’t want these things done to you,

Then why would you do them to another?

So do good, tell the truth and be kind,

The Bible says to love each other.

(Yes, that even means your sister or your brother!)

---

Treating Others Right

In Matthew 7:12, Jesus said for you to treat others the way you want them to treat you. He doesn’t want you to treat others the way they treat you, but the way you want them to treat you. So if you want others to share with you, you should share with them. If you want others to be kind to you, you should be kind to them. If you want others to talk good about you, you should talk good about them. This is God’s way of living.

Tribbledy Tibbledy Libbledy Dooth,

Would never ever tell the truth.

She lied to her parents.

She lied to her friends.

She’d tell the same lie over and over again.

Tribbledy Tibbledy Libbledy Dooth,

Would never ever tell the truth.

She lied about homework.

She lied about money.

She lied about who ate an entire jar of honey.

Tribbledy Tibbledy Libbledy Dooth,

Would never ever tell the truth.

She lied about big things.

She lied about the small.

She told big lies about things that didn’t matter at all.

Tribbledy Tibbledy Libbledy Dooth,

Would never ever tell the truth.

She lied to get people’s attention.

She lied to get trouble out of her way.

She lied sometimes just to have something to say.

Yes, Tribbledy Tibbledy Libbledy Dooth,

Would never ever tell the truth.

But truth is always revealed.

And soon everyone knew.

Nothing she said was ever really true.

Tribbledy Tibbledy Libbledy Dooth,

Who never ever told the truth.

Found that her parents no longer trusted her.

Her friends didn’t want to hear it.

They didn’t want to listen. They didn’t want to be near it.

Tribbledy Tibbledy Libbledy Dooth,

Who never ever told the truth.

Went in a corner and sat down to cry.

“If I had known the what this would bring,

I would have never started to lie.”

Then Tribbledy Tibbledy Libbledy Dooth,

Decided to always tell the truth.

I’m going to speak the truth, you’ll see.

But her friends didn’t believe it.

She had told so many lies, they just couldn’t conceive it.

But Tribbledy Tibbledy Libbledy Dooth,

Who had decided to always tell the truth.

Stuck to her word to lie no more.

And although it took quite a long while, it’s true.

Once people believed her again, she was glad her lying days were through.

---

Truthfulness

Someone who is truthful always tells what really happened. They never lie, even if lying could get them out of trouble. In the Bible in John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus doesn’t just tell the truth—He is truth. He is your Best Friend, and you can always trust Him because He and the Bible will never tell a lie.