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W-O-R-R-Y

Album: 26: Back on the Air

Episode: 337

Lesson/Theme: Worry.

Bible Verse: Matthew 6:25-34

Characters: Sam

Writer: Marshal Younger

Sound Designer: Bob Luttrell

Original Air Date: November 11, 1995

Last Air Date: May 8, 2009

Description:
Erica is getting a haircut in anticipation of her annual class picture. She wants the haircut to be perfect. Every other year, she’s looked like a geek in her picture. Unfortunately, the stylist isn’t paying attention, and Erica ends up with the worst haircut in history. She is worried about how things will turn out, and she isn’t the only one. Sam Johnson has entered the Academic Olympics at school and is stunned, the last subject is spelling, and Sam is terrible at it. Both Sam and Erica panic and worry about their respective problems, then decide to pray about them. Later, Erica’s mother turns her disastrous cut into a wonderfully stylish ‘do. Meanwhile, Sam learns that if he can score well enough on his other subjects, he may not have to worry about the spelling section. But on the day before the pictures, Sam and Erica race their bikes through the park. Erica loses control of her bike and crashes, scratching her face! A new problem to worry about! Then Sam learns that his scores going into the spelling test are only high enough to tie him for first place. More worrying. Jack notices their attitudes and advises each of them to pray again. He tells Erica to leave her problem in God’s hands, she can’t do much about it anyway. But Jack tells Sam to get busy and start studying for the test. Sam wonders why he has to study when Erica gets to pray. Jack explains that their situations are different. Erica has no control over her situation, but Sam does have control over his. Sam understands and begins preparing. He ends up placing third in the Academic Olympics. As for Erica, she gets her picture taken, and it ends up being completely normal! And both of them learn not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself.

Questions:
Why is it so bad to worry? What does Jesus say about it? Why did Jack give different advice to Sam and Erica? Is there something you are worried about? Do you have any control over your situation? What should you do to stop worrying?