“Marky Maypo and His Neighbor, Lise”

Saturday, June 29, 2019. 7:14 PM.

Marky Maypo and His Neighbor Lise

Hey Lise . . .

I was just enjoying my morning tea –

[even if it puts me at risk of a belly ache]

And was imagining writing to you about marky maypo.

Then I wondered if you even remember him;

So, I went to YouTube looking for a commercial about him —

[to refresh your memory]

There are many short commercials about maypo cereal featuring marky, like this one:

“I WANT MY MAYPO!”

And there is also one that has many commercials about cereal for children –

Including  Wheatena and Maypo and Maltex;

So, here is the one “with the mostest”

[for “the hostess with the mostest”]

That is, the granddaddy collection of vintage cereals for children.

You don’t have to view the whole thing if you don’t want to.

You could just look at a minute’s worth of it.

Maybe tomorrow with your tea you could watch a little more.

[if you drink tea]

It isn’t a perfect collection, either;

There is some repetition in it.

You can “skip through my lou” to get past the repetitions –

Or any parts you don’t like.

I understand you’re too busy to be my pen pal, Lise . . .

But, you should see that marky maypo!

He just doesn’t take no for an answer with his Uncle Ralphy;

He is so persistent!

I’ll bet the Lord would declare him to be a boy of great faith — with an indomitable spirit that comes from the Lord his God.

“Maypo and Wheatena TV commercials 1950s – 1970s”

What I was imagining writing to you about, Lise, based on the character of marky maypo

Was like this:

Little marky maypo in the 1950s comes knocking at the door of his neighbor friend little lise. They are about 5 years old.

Little Lise opens her door and sees little marky maypo there.

Marky: “Hi Lise. Would you come out and play with me today?”

Little Lise crosses her little arms and says: “Marky, you know I’m a very busy girl. I have no time to play with children!”

Marky: “Lise, don’t you remember what Jesus said?”

Lise: “What did He say, Marky?”

Marky: “He said except you repent and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And He also said to love your neighbor.” [please see Matthew 18:1-4; Mark 9:33-37; and Luke 9:46-48; Mark 12:28-34. NIV Study Bible.]

Lise considered all this for a few moments with her arms still crossed wondering what to do. Finally, she uncrossed her arms and said to Marky. “I really can’t go out and play with you, Marky; but, if you would like, you may come in. I was just about to try out a new cereal that my mum brought home yesterday. Would you like to have breakfast with me, marky?”

Marky: “Sure, that would be great, Lise!”

Lise: “Alright, marky; come into the kitchen with me.”

Marky: “What’s the name of this new cereal, Lise? he asks as they walk into the kitchen together.

Lise: “It’s called Maypo, marky.”

Marky’s eyes open wide and he asks, “It’s called “Maypo Marky”?”

Lise: “No. It’s called just Maypo.”

Marky: “It’s called “Just Maypo”?

Lise: “No, Marky. The name of the cereal is “Maypo”! You are so literal, Marky!”

Marky: “That’s what mom says to me sometimes, “You are so literal!” Lise, what does literal mean?”

Lise: “It means you take things so literally, Marky!”

Marky: “What does “literally” mean, Lise?”

Lise: “It means you’re so focused on the meaning of words.”

Marky: “Oh, OK; now I get you.”

Lise: “No, you don’t get me!”

Marky: “Sorry, Lise. I didn’t mean it that literally. I only meant I understand what you meant. I get your meaning. Lise, are you literal, too? Just like me?”

Lise: “No, marky. I am not literal just like you.”

Marky: “Then, how are you, Lise?”

Lise: “I’m spiritual, that’s how I am!”

Marky: “What does that mean, Lise?”

Lise: “Jesus put it this way: “My words are spirit and they are life.”

Marky: “And what does that mean, Lise?”

Lise: “You have to be born again to understand the things of the Spirit of God, marky.”

Marky: “And how do I get born again, Lise?”

Lise: “You must hear and believe the gospel, Marky.”

Marky: “And what is the gospel, Lise? Where can I go to hear it?”

Lise: “The gospel is in the Bible, Marky. We can read it together after breakfast, if you like.”

Marky: “I would like that, Lise. Would you read it to me and I will just listen to you telling me what is written there?”

Lise: “Yes, Marky.”

So, after breakfast, Lise and Marky wash the dishes and dry them together –just like June & Ward did sometimes on “Leave It to Beaver.” And then, Lise gets her mum’s Bible and they sit down in the living room. Lise opens the Bible, wondering where to begin reading the gospel to Marky. As she is turning the pages, she comes upon the book titled, Mark. She thinks to herself: “Well, this seems like an appropriate place to begin.” So, she clears her throat and begins by saying out loud for Marky to hear: “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way’ – a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ “And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” -Mark 1:1-4 NIV Study Bible.

Marky: “Excuse me, Lise. May I ask a question?”

Lise: “What is your question, Marky?”

Marky: “What does repentance mean?”

Lise: “Repentance means turning away from our own selfish ways of understanding everything; and turning to God’s way – which is believing what He tells us is the Way and the Truth and the Life, according to the Scriptures. Then she turns to the book titled Romans and finds there in the beginning of chapter 12: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” -Romans 12:1-2 NIV.

And just then, Lise’s older sister, Andree, walks quietly into the living room and sits down at the piano as she does every morning. And she begins to play this hymn:

“As the Deer”

And as Marky listens to the music, his little heart is so touched by everything he’s been experiencing this morning: having breakfast with Lise, his sweet neighbor; and hearing the beginning of the gospel for the first time in his young life; and now, hearing this beautiful music about thirsting for the Lord, that he begins to weep, silently.

And Andree notices his tears; and she recalls the shortest verse in all the Bible: “Jesus wept.” And she feels so touched in her own heart at the sight of this little boy weeping, that she gets up and walks over to where marky is sitting on the couch by himself; and she sits down beside him; and she puts her arm around his shoulders to comfort him and give him assurance that he is not all alone. And little Marky feels like he is bursting with emotion of pain and sorrow; and he wants to cry out all his pain; but, he can’t. He feels that it is all locked up inside him. And cannot be released.

And then another boy comes walking into the living room, Andree’s and Lise’s brother, Marc. And he exclaims, “What happened to all the Maypo? Mom bought it only yesterday – and it’s almost all gone already?”

And Lise looks at Marky on the couch holding his belly in pain; and she asks, “What’s the matter with you, Marky?”

Marky: “I know, I’m so selfish. I must repent. I ate too much for breakfast – a big bowl of Maypo cereal. And now I have a belly ache to go along with my heart ache and soul ache! Oh Lord have mercy on me a sinner! Lise, if only you had come outside and played with me none of this would have come to pass.”

Lise: “Marky! Is this what I get for showing hospitality to you?”

Marky: “I’m sorry Lise. It isn’t your fault. I shouldn’t blame you. The fault is all mine; I’m such a wicked little boy.”

Andree: “Just go to sleep on the couch, Marky. You may feel better when you wake up.”

So, Marky falls fast asleep on the couch. And he has a dream. And while marky is sleeping and dreaming, his friends pray together in the Lord Jesus’ name asking God to lead them by His Holy Spirit and help their little friend in his time of need – with his belly ache and his heart ache and his soul ache.

And when marky awakens, Andree says to him: “Are you feeling better now, marky?”

Marky: “Well, my belly ache is gone, anyway.”

Andree: “What about your heart and soul aches, marky; are they gone, too?”

Marky: “I think maybe they only occur when I listen to heart and soul touching music, Andree.”

Andree: “And why is that, marky?”

Marky: “I don’t know.”

Andree: “Would you like to visit us again next week, marky?”

Marky: “Yes, I would.”

Andree: “Alright then, marky. Come back next week at the same time you visited us, today. OK?”

Marky: “OK. And thank you, Lise, for inviting me in and having breakfast and conversation with me. And thank you, Andree for playing that heart-touching music on the piano. And thank you, Marc, for sharing the gospel with your family; so that your sisters could share it with me.”

The Song: “Amen” in the movie “Lilies of the Field”

A Clip from the movie: “Lilies of the Field”

Blessed Assurance – piano instrumental hymn with lyrics

“The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: ‘After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'” -Mark 1:5-8 NIV Study Bible.