Puppets: New Year's Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions

Monkey Moe: Happy New Year Boys& Girls!!! In just 5 days we will be in a brand new year! I can’t wait – I’m so excited, I’m so excited! Hey Mooster!!! Mooster where are you? Moooooooster!

Mooster:  (From behind stage: I’m coming, I’m coming! Pant, pant, pant) Whew! I’m here! How in the world did you get here so early, Moe? You’re usually almost always later than I am! And today you are here early. What’s up?

Monkey Moe: Late no more, Mooster. I’m a new Monkey. It’s a new year soon. I’m making some New Year’s Resolutions. One of them is to no longer be tardy. I’m going to be on time from now on!

Mooster: Oh, I see. Lots of people make New Year’s resolutions. Kids, if yo hear people talking about making resolutions, that means they are resolving, or making a decision, to change something in their lives. Sometimes they resolve to exercise more or read their Bible more or eat healthier or save money, or something like that.

Monkey Moe:  Yep!  My teacher at school told us about resolutions. She said she is resolving to eat fewer bananas this year. She wants to lose 15 pounds. Hey Mooster, are you going to cut back on the old roots and berries this year?

Mooster: Are you suggesting I need to lose weight?

Monkey Moe: Welllllll…..you do seem a little…….fluffier…..recently.

Mooster: That’s my winter coat, Moe. Of course I’m … fluffier.

Monkey Moe: Oh. Okay. If you say so.

Mooster: Anyway, you aren’t supposed to be suggesting resolutions for ME to do. You only many resolutions for yourself.

Monkey Moe: Oh really? I didn’t know that. I’ve been helping lots of people make New Year’s resolutions today.

Mooster: Oh brother. I can only imagine. And just who have you been “helping” today?

Moe: Well, I suggested that granny use a scentless pain ointment instead of BenGay so she won’t smell so mediciny anymore. And I told Uncle Bob to resolve to use efferdent on his dentures so they won’t be so yellow. And that he put them in his mouth instead of leaving them in the glass on his nightstand.

Mooster: Oh Moe! You didn’t!

Monkey Moe: I sure did! Plus I told Mrs. Harris that she should resolve to quit smoking and I told Mom she ought to resolve to take some new cooking classes this year! And I told Dad to resolve to run 10 miles a week to help him be able to play monkeyball better with me.

Mooster: Moe!

Moe: What? All my suggestions will help people to be healthier, smell better, cook better, or look better. They are all good resolutions. I think I was quite helpful.

Mooster: Moe, it might be that your resolutions are good ones to suggest, but your suggesting those things to all those people is rude! Did any of them ask you for help in making up their New Year’s resolutions?

Moe: Uh, no. I just told them. I said I was making New Year’ s resolutions and that they should too! I even told Preacher Hemmingstein that he should resolved to keep his messages down to just 20 minutes. That way we’ll all be home in time for our Sunday dinner.

Mooster: Oh Moe. You don’t tell a preacher how long to preach! That’s God’s business, not yours. You need to add a resolution to your own list. Resolve not to be rude!

Moe: I can do that. I have a lot on there anyway. Want to hear them?  

Mooster: Sure. This should be entertaining. Go ahead.

Moe: Okay. First, I am resolved to be on time, to brush my fur every day, to take out the trash without being asked, to do my homework right after school each day, to not put my gum under the table anymore ~

Mooster: Ewwwwww!

Moe: To not throw my banana peels in my laundry basket anymore ~

Mooster: I’m sure your mom appreciates that one!

Moe: That’s exactly what she said! She appreciated that! Want me to keep going? I Have two dozen more.

Mooster: No, no, no…thanks, Moe. I’m sure you have a great list. And I think making changes for the better is a good idea. But, I think you should consider only changing a few things at a time. Then you can always add more later. If you try and change too many things at one time, you might get discouraged and give up on all of them. That’s what usually happens…people make great decisions at the beginning of a new year, but by the middle of January, they get discouraged because they didn’t succeed and give up the whole idea.

Moe: Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe you are right. I should just pick a couple.

Mooster: Probably the gum, the banana peels, and the being late could be the first ones to practice on.

Moe: Well I also had one on here about cleaning the dirt out from under my fingernails more often…should I put that one near the top, too?

Mooster: Ummmm, yes, that might be nice. By the way, I noticed you didn’t say anything about reading your Bible or praying or going to church or talking to others about Jesus, or memorizing verses. Do you think you should add a spiritual resolution to your list?

Moe: Oh, I didn’t even think about that. Does God care about things that I want to change in my life?

Mooster: Sure He does! He wants us to always be conforming more and more into His image. So making changes is a natural part of that. Is there an area you would like to be doing better in this same time next year?

Moe: Actually, there is. I would like to memorize more Bible verses.

Mooster: That’s an excellent idea, Moe. I want to learn more, too. This is one resolution we could make together and work on together, to encourage each other! The Bible says in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Memorizing verses is a great way to keep God’s word in our hearts so that we are not so tempted to sin.

Moe: That’s true, Mooster. Isn’t there a song that goes with that verse?

Mooster: There sure is! But our songleader isn’t able to sing yet…he’s been sick. But I think I can sing it. Can you sing it with me? Thyyyy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee… that I might not sin…. that I might not sin … thy word have I hid in mine heart.

Moe: Oh Oh oh I know one that’s good too. This could be our memory verse for next time:  Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

Mooster: Yep, that’s a great verse. It always helps me think of God lighting my path before me. Like if I was in a dark forest and couldn’t find my way out, and then Jesus comes along with a lantern and helps me find my way.

Moe: Yep, that’s how I picture it too!

Mooster: So, getting back to your New Year’s resolutions for other people….

Moe: Oh, don’t worry, Mooster. I won’t do that anymore. I will let people make their own resolutions. I won’t offer anymore suggestions.

Mooster: Good! I’m glad to hear it.

Moe: Except…..

Mooster: What?

Moe: What do I do with all my good ideas for how people can improve themselves?

Mooster: Pray for them! Pray specifically and maybe God will bring your ideas to their minds. Then they will work on their changes just between them and God – you won’t be involved.

Moe: Ohhhh….yeah, that does sound like a better idea.

Mooster: I think so, too. Okay kids- if you want to make some New Year’s resolutions, go ahead! But remember to keep your ideas simple. And don’t get discouraged if you forget once in a while. The important thing is to keep working at it. Sometimes it takes a long time for a new behavior to become a habit. Bad habits don’t happen overnight, so remember that good habits don’t either.

Moe: Oh – that’s another one I want to work on at some point. I bite my toenails and I know that’s a yucky habit. I need to stop doing it. But it might take me a long time to work on that one.

Mooster: Ewww….yeah that sounds like a good one to work on. Kids, if you have a habit that’s especially hard for you to break, make sure and pray about it. God will help you. Just don’t get discouraged when it takes a little time. Remember the Bible tells us in Phillipians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ because He strengthens us. He will give you the strength to break bad habits. Like biting your toenails. Yuck!

Moe: Thanks, Moe! If I stop biting my toenails, maybe my socks will last longer.

Bye boys and girls!

Mooster: Oh brother! Bye everyone!