Mikey the monkey peeked around the tree in the little park and giggled, her polka dotted bow drooping over one eye. It was Saturday afternoon and she was playing hide and seek with her friends. The park was right next to the little white church where she lived with her family in the cozy basement behind the Christmas ornaments’ box. As Mikey the monkey scampered to the apple tree that she and her friends decided was home base, she heard “Mikey, dinner time!” Mikey The monkey waved goodbye to her friends and raced home. Her tummy was starting to growl and she couldn’t wait to see what her mom made for dinner.

As they sat down for dinner, Mikey the monkey bowed her head as her mom prayed to thank God for their food. Mikey, the monkey eagerly reached for a piece of bread, and her mom said “Mikey The monkey, did you wash your paws before dinner?” Oops! Mikey looked down and realized she hadn’t. She was so hungry, but obeyed her mom and hurried to wash her paws. Mikey The monkey knew this rule was important to keep her from getting sick. After dinner, she started to scamper to her room to read the adventure story she just started the night before, but her mom called out, “Mikey, would you clear the dishes off the table?” Mikey carefully carried the dishes to the sink while she told her mom about the fun she had in the park that day with her friends. She told her mom that Moose The monkey didn’t obey his mom that morning, so he wasn’t able to play at the park that afternoon. Mikey the monkey’s mom said that while it’s hard to obey when you want to have fun, it’s important that children obey their parents and their elders. “What’s an elder?” asked Mikey the monkey.

“An elder is someone who is a trusted adult and you need to respect them by obeying and being polite.” Mikey asked her mom if she had to obey all adults, remembering the lessons she learned about being careful of strangers. Her mom said, “Well, you need to remember the rules about strangers. It’s OK to disobey an adult if they’re a stranger and ask you to go somewhere with them or tell you to do something that you know is wrong.”

That evening, Mikey The monkey sat down beside her pile of storybooks and was in the middle of the adventure story when her mom said it was time to brush her teeth and get ready for bed. “Just one more minute.” Mikey The monkey called out and continued reading, her whiskers twitching as the book was getting to the most exciting part. “No, Mikey The monkey, it’s time for bed.” Mikey quickly found a bookmark to mark her page and jumped up to obey. She put on her pink pajamas with the teddy bears and brushed her teeth. She smiled in the mirror. “Yes, nice and shiny!” she thought to herself.

As Mikey The monkey kneeled beside her bed and prayed, she thanked God for helping her to obey today quickly and to not complain or grumble once. Sometimes it was hard because she really wanted to play at the park longer, and she didn’t like doing chores, or having to stop reading her book when it was just at the most exciting part. But she was happy that she did obey and she knew that God had helped her to do her best that day. Mikey the monkey knows it makes God happy when she obeys!

Is it sometimes hard for you to obey too? God can help you do your best every day too. And did you know that Mikey The monkey loves Jesus? He is Mikey The monkey’s best friend and he can be YOUR best friend too! You can just pray the below prayer and Jesus will be YOUR best friend and will help you do your best every day too! Did you know the angels are cheering in heaven every time someone invites Jesus to be their best friend? Isn’t that exciting?

Dear God, I know I am a sinner. Please forgive me. I believe that Jesus died for me on the cross and that He arose from the grave so that I can live with Him in Heaven someday. I am now trusting Jesus as my Savior. Thank you for loving me and saving me. Amen.

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20)

May God bless these words as I strive to edify and encourage others in their walk with Christ. Married 20 years, I have a teenage son, and two wonderful golden retriever/collie dogs. I am also a contributing staff writer to www.HeartFriendz.com – an awesome website just for women! Nancy Quinn