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Two Sides to Every Story

Album: Gold Audio 09: Just in Time

Episode: 109

Lesson/Theme: Considering another person's point of view.

Bible Verse: Proverbs 20:23

Characters: Donna, George, Jimmy, Mary

Writer: Paul McCusker

Sound Designer: Dave Arnold

Original Air Date: March 24, 1990

Last Air Date: June 2, 2008

Description:
George and Mary Barclay are on their way home from a well-deserved night on the town, thankful that the kids are finally old enough to stay home by themselves. But as they turn up their street, they see a fire truck parked in front of their house! George and Mary race home, where the fire captain calms them. He says the kids just experienced a small electrical fire when they dumped water on their malfunctioning television set. After the firemen leave, George and Mary attempt to find out from Jimmy and Donna exactly what happened. But both kids keep talking at the same time, so George and Mary decide to split up the kids and get their individual stories. George takes Jimmy, and Mary takes Donna. Each couple retreats to separate rooms to get the scoop. When Donna tells her side, she blames Jimmy for the whole thing, while painting herself as a long-suffering saint. Jimmy does the same-Donna acted like a mean old witch to Jimmy, the handsome, young (and innocent) prince. George and Mary find it hard to believe either one of them. They piece together what really happened and, not surprisingly, both kids were at fault. George and Mary decide on appropriate punishments for Jimmy and Donna, and the Barclay family illustrates that there are always two sides to every story.

Questions:
Who lied in this story? Explain your answer. Do you think that Jimmy and Donna meant to lie? Why or why not? Why is it important to try and see both sides to every story? Do you think that's how God looks at things? Give a biblical example.