The Checklist | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Checklist | Previous Challenge Entry
By Rhonda Barber
11/16/25
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The Checklist

I am a part-time nanny to my grandchildren. This means my days are filled with childlike sounds (and smells)!

I’ve learned a lot from the shows they watch, and some I can recite word-for-word. Some make me laugh. For instance, one day, Mickey Mouse was describing a record player to the younger generation. He said, “A record player is an ancient device used to play music.”

Say what?! An “ancient” device? I have used a record player – and I’m not “ancient” years old!

At times, the shows are quite entertaining. Other times, the minister in me will hear something that is said, and I think to myself, “That will preach!” I call it Preschool Theology.

One day, an episode of Bluey caught my attention. (Bluey is an Australian animated children's show about a six-year-old Blue Heeler puppy named Bluey who lives with her younger sister Bingo, Mum, and Dad.) The name of the episode is called “The Show” in which Bingo is feeling (pardon the pun) “blue”.

Mum shares a checklist with her – what she does to feel better when she’s having a hard day. Mum tells Bingo that she has a little cry (check), picks herself up (check), dusts herself off (check), and keeps going – the show must go on (check).

One day, not long after I watched this episode, I had a complete mental meltdown. And what was the first thing that came to mind? Yep -the words of Bluey and Bingo’s mum – the kids’ show with a profound message that day.

So, I had a good cry (check).

I picked myself up (check).

I dusted myself off (check).

And I kept going – because the show must go on (check).

This simple program for kids helped me tremendously that day.

The more I thought about it, I realized that all these things can be related to our spiritual walk.

Have a good cry
“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Psalm 126:5 NKJV)

Pick myself up
“For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again” (Proverbs 24:16a NIV)

Dust myself off
“Shake yourself from the dust, arise” (Isaiah 52:2a NKJV)

Keep going, the show must go on
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV)

The next time you experience something that knocks you down, just remember the checklist:

Have yourself a little cry (check).

Pick yourself up (check).

Dust yourself off (check).

Keep going – the show must go on (check).

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13 NKJV)

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