Hi Boys and Girls.

This is the Mega Bubble Man.

Today’s story is “The Dollar Lesson”

In a small, cozy bedroom, there was a young boy named Charlie. His room was filled with toys—trucks, blocks, and a big fluffy bear that sat right in the corner. But today, Charlie wasn’t playing. He was sitting on his bed, staring at the floor, his eyebrows scrunched together, as his mom stood by the door with her hands on her hips.

"Charlie," his mom said with a deep sigh, "we need to talk. Again."

Charlie squirmed, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. He could feel the heat creeping up his face as he glanced nervously at his mom. He knew why she was upset. He had taken a dollar from her purse without asking. He’d done it before, and each time, his mom had sat him down to explain why stealing was wrong. But here they were, again.

“Charlie,” Mrs. Peters said, sitting down on the bed next to him, her voice softer now, "when you take something that isn’t yours, without asking, it’s called stealing. And stealing is wrong—both because it hurts people and because it’s something God doesn’t want us to do."

Charlie’s lip poked out as he scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. “But it was just a dollar, Mom! I wanted to buy a candy bar from the store.”

His mom shook her head gently. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a dollar or a hundred dollars, Charlie. The point is that you took something that didn’t belong to you. Do you remember what I told you about being wise?”

Charlie pouted and huffed. “Kind of...” he muttered, his eyebrows furrowing even more.

She smiled softly, leaning closer, trying to make things clear. "Wisdom is about learning to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. Like listening to instructions. You know, when I tell you not to steal, that’s an instruction. It’s meant to help you make good choices and keep you from doing something that might hurt others or yourself."

Charlie blinked up at her, his pout fading a little as he thought. “So… stealing hurts you, Mom?”

She nodded, her face serious but kind. “It hurts my heart, Charlie. It makes me sad because I know you’re a good boy. And when you steal, it shows me you’re not learning the lesson. But it also hurts you.”

Charlie wrinkled his nose and tilted his head. "Me? How does it hurt me?"

“Well,” she explained, “when you steal, it can make your heart feel yucky inside. You know that feeling you have right now?” She pointed to his chest gently. “That feeling where you know you did something wrong? That’s because your heart knows it’s not right.”

Charlie’s eyes widened a little as he looked down at his own chest, pressing his hand against his heart. “I guess…” he whispered, his lips wobbling slightly. “I guess I do feel kind of yucky…”

His mom continued, “And God teaches us to be honest and kind to others. Stealing isn’t just about taking things. It’s about not showing love or respect to the people around us.”

Charlie blinked a few times, his eyes misting up just a little. “So… God doesn’t like it when I steal?”

“No,” she said gently, “He doesn’t. But do you know what’s really amazing about God?” Charlie looked up, curious, his eyebrows raised. “He’s always ready to forgive us when we make mistakes, as long as we ask. That’s what makes God’s love so special.”

Charlie bit his lip, thinking hard. He didn’t want to feel yucky inside anymore, and he didn’t want to hurt his mom or God. Slowly, he whispered, “Mom, I’m sorry. I don’t want to steal anymore. I want to do what’s right.” His eyes filled with determination, even as a single tear slipped down his cheek.

His mom’s face softened, her own eyes glistening, as she pulled him into a big hug. “Thank you, Charlie. That’s the start of wisdom—listening to instruction and learning from it.”

Charlie buried his face in his mom’s shoulder, the yucky feeling in his chest beginning to fade. “Can I ask God to forgive me too?” he asked, his voice muffled against her shirt.

His mom smiled, her eyes twinkling with love. “Of course, sweetie.”

So right there, in his cozy bedroom filled with toys, Charlie squeezed his eyes shut, clasped his hands together, and whispered a prayer. “Dear God, I’m really sorry for stealing. Please forgive me and help me to make better choices.” He peeked one eye open, glancing at his mom. “Amen,” he added, his voice stronger now.

When he finished, his mom kissed the top of his head. “I’m proud of you, Charlie. And you know what? I bet God is smiling too.”

Charlie grinned, his face lighting up, feeling lighter and happy inside. He had learned his lesson this time—not just about stealing, but about listening to his mom’s instructions and growing wiser with each choice he made.

As the day went on, Charlie played with his toys and felt at peace. He didn’t feel the need to sneak into his mom’s purse anymore. After all, he was learning to be wise, and that felt way better than a candy bar.

The end.

If you want Him to not only live in your home but in your heart, go to this page to find out more. It’s called FIRST!

Mega Bubble Man Podcasts for Kids is an outreach of Mega Bubble Man Productions.

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