Viva La Difference

Chris: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Adventures in Odyssey.
John Avery Whitaker: Oh, hi there. Welcome to Odyssey. I'm John Avery Whitaker, but most folks around here call me Whit. Why don't you get the whole family together and join us for another exciting adventure in Odyssey.
Tracy Mulligan: Welcome to Mulligan Ville.
Nick: Will somebody get this monkey off my bed?
Janelle: Why don't you head into the kitchen and start fixing us something to eat?
Nick: Hey, there's four of us and four birds.
Jessica: Do either of you two like animals?
Lisa Mulligan: It depends on how they're cooked.
Michael Mulligan: Prepare yourself for a real meal.
Nick: Mr. Whitaker, over here.
John Avery Whitaker: Oh, Michael. Oh, my. This is quite an operation you've got going here.
Nick: So far, so good. With the Connellsville zoo closing and everything. Tracy, sweetheart, the kangaroos go into the stall by the barn. This one's for the baby elephant.
Lisa Mulligan: Oh, right. Got it.
Nick: Anyway, with the zoo closing, we've agreed to take on a few of the Lisa, the ostriches. They're looking pretty skittish. Is there some way you can calm them down some?
Lisa Mulligan: I'm trying. Nick and his mountain goats, they're scaring them half to death.
Nick: If you'd stop mothering them bird brains of yours, we could get them moving. Hey, Mr. Whitaker.
John Avery Whitaker: Hello, Nick.
Nick: Yaha. Come on, fellas. Move them hooves. Yippee I don't care.
John Avery Whitaker: And obviously too many cowboy movies. Where were we?
Nick: Oh, you mentioned taking in some of the zoo's animals.
John Avery Whitaker: All right. Just a few, you know, to see how things go. I mean, with this much property, it only seemed fitting to, you know, do our Noah bit to try and set Whit, watch your step there. Your step. Watch Oh, never mind.
Nick: Sorry.
John Avery Whitaker: Well, I wonder if Noah wore boots.
Nick: Are you sticking around for dinner?
John Avery Whitaker: Well, you look pretty busy, Michael. I wouldn't want to impose.
Nick: Oh, no. No bother. In fact, it would be great to have a two-legged guest for a change.
Lisa Mulligan: Mr. Whitaker, the ostriches. Look out.
John Avery Whitaker: Oh, oh. Oh, you you were saying something about about the two-legged guests.
Nick: Well, I was thinking more of the type with outfits. We'd love you to stay as, you know, as long as you don't mind eating vegetarian. So right now with all the animals, well, Lisa's gotten kind of sensitive to this meat eating subject.
John Avery Whitaker: Well, sure. Sure, Mike. I I'd love to.
Nick: Great. Great.
John Avery Whitaker: Okay, let's go, guys. It's getting dark. Come on now. Let's move it. Let's move it.
Chris: Now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club, Jane and Olivia are worried.
Jane: One of us definitely needs to dress the whole Zamarin thing.
Olivia: Zamarin? What are you talking about?
Jane: You're kidding. She's got a major crush.
Olivia: Especially after they make a discovery.
Jane: Oh.
Olivia: What?
Jane: It's just a bunch of signatures that say Zoe Morris.
Olivia: Zoe Morris as in Cameron Morris as in Cam?
Chris: Listen now, only on the Adventures in Odyssey Club.
John Avery Whitaker: Yeah, Tracy, that was one fine meal. Thanks for having me out.
Tracy Mulligan: Anytime, Mr. Whitaker.
Nick: It was great seeing you again. Lisa, what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be in bed?
Lisa Mulligan: Yeah, I just wanted to check on Nick's mountain goats. He was so mean to them this afternoon, and they seemed kind of sad.
Tracy Mulligan: They'll be fine, sweetheart.
Lisa Mulligan: Can't I just stay a few more minutes?
Tracy Mulligan: I don't think so.
Lisa Mulligan: Please. I'll only be
Tracy Mulligan: Good night, Lisa.
Lisa Mulligan: All right. Good night. Good night, Mr. Whitaker.
John Avery Whitaker: Sweet dreams, Lisa. Well, she does have a way with animals, doesn't she?
Tracy Mulligan: I really think some of it has to do with her blindness.
John Avery Whitaker: Hm.
Tracy Mulligan: It's as if they sense her vulnerability and and her love for them.
John Avery Whitaker: Hm. Yeah, Nick's pretty good with them too, though. But I'd have to say their approach is as different as night and day.
Tracy Mulligan: Yeah, like everything else about them.
John Avery Whitaker: Are there still problems?
Tracy Mulligan: Well, not like before. Now they're just getting used to the brother-sister thing. Lisa's all girl and Nick's well, Nick's
John Avery Whitaker: Mega Macho Man.
Tracy Mulligan: Oh, I wonder where he picked that up.
John Avery Whitaker: Hey, hey, hey. Well, listen you two. I know this might not be the best timing, you know, with your moving in the animals and everything, but
Nick: What's up, Whit?
John Avery Whitaker: Well, rumor has it that two of you have made some sort of an agreement with God.
Nick: Hm. Word travels fast.
Tracy Mulligan: Actually, what we've done is promised to try and never say no to him.
John Avery Whitaker: Oh, I see.
Nick: See, after my father's death, we decided we wanted to make more of an impact on the world.
Tracy Mulligan: And we figured the best place to start was by agreeing to do whatever God wanted, no matter how unusual the request.
Nick: Even if it means running a wild animal park.
John Avery Whitaker: Why do you ask Whit? Well, there's a single mother at our church. She's going in for some very extensive surgery and well, her children really have no place to stay. And well, with all of your room here on the farm and the possibility that you'll need some extra hands with these animals
Nick: You thought they could stay here?
John Avery Whitaker: Well, actually I was just hoping you'd pray about it.
Tracy Mulligan: Oh, we'd love to.
Nick: Pray she means.
John Avery Whitaker: Now it may be too much of an inconvenience.
Tracy Mulligan: Oh, no. Not if it's something God wants.
Nick: If it's something he wants.
John Avery Whitaker: So you'll pray about it then?
Tracy Mulligan: Absolutely.
John Avery Whitaker: All right. That would be great. Well, good night and thanks again.
Nick: You bet.
Tracy Mulligan: Good night.
John Avery Whitaker: Good night, Mr. Whitaker. More children, huh?
Tracy Mulligan: More the merrier.
Nick: Well, I suppose we could always incorporate the magnificent Mulligans Incorporated. It's got a nice ring to it.
Tracy Mulligan: Or we could just become a city. Welcome to Mulligan Ville.
Nick: I bet it's okay with you if we pray about this first, right?
Tracy Mulligan: Oh, sure. Why not?
Nick: Yes, why not indeed.
Lisa Mulligan: Good night, Nick. Nick, are you all right?
Nick: Will somebody get this this monkey off my bed?
Lisa Mulligan: Oh. She's not a monkey. She's a chimpanzee. And her name is Winona.
Nick: I don't care what she is. Just tell Miss Banana Breath to get off my chest.
Lisa Mulligan: Poor baby. Did that mean old boy hurt your feelings? Honestly, Nick, if you're going to work with animals, you've got to learn to lighten up. Go with the flow.
Tracy Mulligan: Oh, Lisa, there you are. Honey, here's the laundry you left out on the clothes line. At least what's left of it.
Lisa Mulligan: What what's left? What these are my jeans and they're
Nick: Hm.
Lisa Mulligan: They're full of holes and oh, my good silk blouse. It's it's all shredded to pieces.
Tracy Mulligan: I'm afraid Nick's goats got out in the middle of the night. I guess they were a little hungry.
Lisa Mulligan: Mom.
Tracy Mulligan: Sorry.
Lisa Mulligan: Nick.
Nick: Sorry, kiddo. But if you work with animals, you got to lighten up. Go with the flow.
John Avery Whitaker: Come on. Stop being such a wimp. Just lift your trunk and let me dump this in. Come on now. Look, it's good stuff. Check this out. See? Yum yum.
Tracy Mulligan: Try to save a little for the elephant, will you, Nick?
John Avery Whitaker: I don't know what his problem is. He hasn't eaten anything since he got here. Maybe feeding with a bottle isn't such a great idea.
Nick: Come on now.
Tracy Mulligan: He's still a baby, Nick. He needs to be bottle fed. Maybe if you tried
John Avery Whitaker: I don't know. A less aggressive approach?
Lisa Mulligan: Yeah, instead of wrestling him to the ground and shoving it down his throat.
Tracy Mulligan: Hi, Lisa.
Nick: What's that supposed to mean?
Lisa Mulligan: Why do you have to be so rough with him? Can't you see he's still scared? Can't you be a little more tender?
Nick: Hey, he's a guy. I'm a guy. We'll work things out. Trust me.
Lisa Mulligan: What, man to elephant?
Nick: It works better than mothering him to death like you do those bird brain ostriches of yours.
Lisa Mulligan: At least those bird brains are eating. At this rate, who knows how long your little guy's going to last.
Nick: Gus and me, we're doing just fine.
Lisa Mulligan: Gus? You named him Gus?
Nick: Yeah. What's wrong with that?
Lisa Mulligan: Well, nothing. I mean, if he's a Russian weightlifter.
Nick: It's a man's name, all right? He'll grow into it.
Lisa Mulligan: Not if he doesn't eat. Here, maybe he just needs a woman's touch.
Nick: I tell you, we got it covered.
Lisa Mulligan: Obviously your macho mania isn't working. Just let me
Nick: Lisa.
Tracy Mulligan: Will you stop being so
John Avery Whitaker: Guys, guys, guys, look. You're two very different people with two very different approaches.
Nick: Yeah, no kidding.
Lisa Mulligan: Yeah, one's right, the other
John Avery Whitaker: And you each have your assigned animals, so concentrate on them. If you have trouble, I'm here to help, but that's my job, Lisa, not yours.
Tracy Mulligan: Sorry.
John Avery Whitaker: Listen, it's getting close to lunch while Nick and I work with Gus. Why don't you head into the kitchen and start fixing us something to eat?
Nick: Oh, great.
Lisa Mulligan: What, now you have a problem with my cooking?
Nick: Well, I didn't know piling raw fruits and vegetables on a plate was considered cooking.
John Avery Whitaker: Guys.
Nick: I mean, she never fixes a real meal. It's always some sort of rabbit food.
Lisa Mulligan: You eat it, don't you?
Nick: Yeah, as if I had a choice.
John Avery Whitaker: Whoa, whoa. Time out. Nick, are you saying you don't like Lisa's cooking?
Nick: I 'm saying with all the raw vegetation, I feel more like I 'm grazing than eating.
Tracy Mulligan: So maybe you should fix something.
Nick: Yeah, maybe I should.
John Avery Whitaker: Well, Nick, if that's something you want, maybe you should give it a try.
Nick: What, me cook? No, no, no. That's a chick thing.
Lisa Mulligan: Mom.
John Avery Whitaker: Some of the best chefs in the world are men.
Nick: Hm. Yeah. Yeah, I guess you're right. Yeah, sure I could get into that. Throw a little something together.
John Avery Whitaker: That sounds good. Okay, ladies. Lunch will be in half an hour. And this time, prepare yourself for a real meal.
Lisa Mulligan: I can hardly wait.
John Avery Whitaker: You two really should go easier on each other.
Lisa Mulligan: We're just teasing.
John Avery Whitaker: Why no, but still.
Lisa Mulligan: Of course it would make it a lot easier if you ever did anything the right way.
John Avery Whitaker: Oh, you mean your way?
Lisa Mulligan: And that's what I said.
John Avery Whitaker: Sweetheart, I don't want this to come as too great a shock, but not everybody has to do things the same way.
Lisa Mulligan: But he's so
John Avery Whitaker: Different?
Lisa Mulligan: Well, yeah. Everything has to be so tough and manly.
John Avery Whitaker: And that's bad?
Lisa Mulligan: It's sure not good.
John Avery Whitaker: You know, I think some of your problem is you've never had a brother. Well, for that matter, Nick has never had a sister. You know, men and women we do things differently sometimes. And sometimes we have entirely different outlooks.
Lisa Mulligan: Exactly. The right one and the wrong one.
John Avery Whitaker: Different doesn't make something wrong. And it doesn't make it right. It different is just well, it's different. You know, think of the animals we brought in. Some had horns, others feathers or trunks. I mean, wouldn't it be boring if they all looked and acted the same?
Lisa Mulligan: Yeah, I guess.
John Avery Whitaker: And one animal isn't better than the other, is it? They're just different. So instead of fighting about your differences maybe the two of you could oof, I don't know, start enjoying them?
Lisa Mulligan: I always enjoy Nick's ignorance.
John Avery Whitaker: Lisa.
Lisa Mulligan: Okay, I 'll try.
John Avery Whitaker: Come on. Let's go see what he's doing for lunch.
Lisa Mulligan: I mean what he's doing to it, don't you? Sorry.
Nick: Hey, Nick. What you fixing?
John Avery Whitaker: A culinary delight that will make your taste buds stand up and sing.
Nick: Great. So do I take the Pepto-Bismol now or later?
John Avery Whitaker: Ho, ho, very funny. Hello? Oh, hi Whit.
Lisa Mulligan: Gross. What's that smell? Did something die?
John Avery Whitaker: Well, yeah, in a manner of speaking.
Lisa Mulligan: So what has the right chef Nick prepared for us today?
John Avery Whitaker: Specialty of the house, hot dog and sausage sandwiches.
Lisa Mulligan: Nick.
John Avery Whitaker: Each sprinkled with an ample portion of bacon carefully wrapped in succulent slices of baloney.
Lisa Mulligan: Mom.
John Avery Whitaker: And topped with a generous mound of spam. Your choice of smoked or regular. Bon appétit, ladies.
Tracy Mulligan: Oh. Oh, Lisa. Are you all right? Honey, you don't look so
Lisa Mulligan: I think I think I'm going to explode me.
John Avery Whitaker: I certainly understand.
Nick: I tell you, some people have no sense of the ironic.
John Avery Whitaker: Absolutely. No, no, it's it's our privilege.
Tracy Mulligan: Oh, Lisa. Lisa, sweetheart, are you all right?
Nick: Bye-bye. Trouble?
John Avery Whitaker: No, not really trouble. Where the girls go?
Nick: Yeah, you know women. One asks to go to the restroom, they all got to go. Come on, dig in.
John Avery Whitaker: Yeah, thanks. This looks nutritious.
Nick: You can say that again. A real man's meal. Come on, Gus. You've got to eat. Come on, open up now. Nick. Over here. Let's go. Come on.
John Avery Whitaker: He's still not responding, huh?
Nick: No. And I'm getting a little worried. Tracy was here earlier. He won't cooperate with any of us.
John Avery Whitaker: No, he's looking pretty dehydrated too.
Nick: I don't know how long he can go like this. Come on now. Come on.
John Avery Whitaker: Listen, Nick Tracy and I well, we have to make an important decision. And since you're part of the family now, we need to know what you think about it as well.
Nick: Sure, what's up?
John Avery Whitaker: Why do you think you and Lisa are getting along?
Nick: Not pretty good. At least we're not trying to kill each other anymore.
John Avery Whitaker: Maim and cripple maybe, but not kill.
Nick: Yeah. It's just she's always trying to make me do stuff her way. All tender and touchy-feely.
John Avery Whitaker: I see. Well, that was quite a stunt you pulled for lunch.
Nick: A pretty cool, huh?
John Avery Whitaker: I thought the antacid after dinner mints were particularly thoughtful.
Nick: I thought you'd appreciate it. What is it about her? I mean, she's such a such a
John Avery Whitaker: Girl?
Nick: Yeah, you can say that again. Let's face it. Women are really weird.
John Avery Whitaker: Yep, not at all like us, huh?
Nick: Got that right.
John Avery Whitaker: Probably be a whole lot better if they just thought and acted like you and me, huh?
Nick: I hear that.
John Avery Whitaker: At least for the first five seconds.
Nick: What do you mean?
John Avery Whitaker: Well, you think about it. What would happen if women all fought exactly like men, huh? Or if they all acted exactly like us, or if they all looked exactly like us?
Nick: That'd stink.
John Avery Whitaker: Yeah, it would. I mean, let's face it. They may seem weird and everything, but well, without women, things could get pretty boring pretty fast.
Nick: Yeah, I suppose. And some things maybe different can be better if we can survive it.
John Avery Whitaker: Yes, if we can survive it. But it's not just between men and women. I mean, when we're around anybody different, it makes us bigger. Somehow it makes us better.
Nick: How so?
John Avery Whitaker: I don't know. Somehow it helps us experience more of life. You know, appreciate its different aspects well, a lot more than if you and I were just carbon copies of each other. I'll tell you that.
Nick: Yeah. I see your point. So tell me, well, what's the real reason behind this talk?
John Avery Whitaker: I 'm sorry, what?
Nick: Well, first you say you want to run something past me. Then I get this little Brady Bunch speech.
John Avery Whitaker: Not obvious, huh?
Nick: Only to someone with my astute mental capability.
John Avery Whitaker: Oh, I see. So so Tracy and I have decided that it's time
Lisa Mulligan: Michael, Nick. The ostriches have broken out of their pen.
Nick: What?
Lisa Mulligan: They're heading up to the east pasture.
Nick: But that's not fenced in yet.
Lisa Mulligan: Exactly. Hurry. Lisa. Michael.
Nick: Over here. Where are they? I don't see
John Avery Whitaker: Right up there on the ridge.
Lisa Mulligan: The ridge? That's near the highway.
Nick: They could wander out in the traffic. We better hurry and get them.
John Avery Whitaker: Okay, there's four of us and four birds. Let's each take one and start directing it back towards the barn.
Nick: What about Lisa?
Lisa Mulligan: What about me?
Nick: Well, I mean it's not like you can see where they
Lisa Mulligan: You just get me up there and I'll handle it.
Nick: Got you.
John Avery Whitaker: Let's go. Hey, head off that male to the left. I've got the female here.
Nick: Will do. Yaha, yaha. Woohoo. Move it, move it. Yaha. No, not that way. This way. Yaha. Yippee. Yaha.
Lisa Mulligan: Okay, girl. Now just take it easy. Nice and easy.
Tracy Mulligan: Please. You need any help?
Lisa Mulligan: No, mom. I'm okay.
Tracy Mulligan: All right. Come on, let's go Come on. Nobody's going to hurt you. We just need you to get back into the crowd, okay? Come on. Come on now.
Nick: Yaha, yaha. Yippee.
John Avery Whitaker: Looking good, Trace.
Nick: You too, partner.
John Avery Whitaker: Yep. Bird wrangling, just another one of my many hidden talents.
Tracy Mulligan: Oh, I see.
Nick: Yaha, all right. Yaha. Get along, little birdie, get along. All right.
Tracy Mulligan: You don't think he's enjoying this too much, do you?
John Avery Whitaker: How's Lisa doing?
Tracy Mulligan: I'm not sure. She's still up on the ridge.
Lisa Mulligan: Come on now, sweetheart. We just got to get you turned around. Come on now. Home is back there. Here. Let me give you a hand. Ow. Ow. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Ow. Leave me alone. Stop it. Leave me. Stop it. Stop kicking me. Stop it. Please. You're hurting. Stop it. Stop.
Nick: Hey, hey, get away from her. Come on, get away. Come on, get out of here. Come on. Move it. Scram. Lisa. You all right?
Lisa Mulligan: Yeah. I
Nick: You're bleeding.
Lisa Mulligan: Yeah, she caught me a couple of times. Ow.
Nick: Sorry.
Lisa Mulligan: I don't know what happened. She just went crazy.
Nick: Well, here. Let me help you up.
Lisa Mulligan: I mean, they're nicer. I sweet talked to her and she just she just turned on me.
Nick: Yeah? Well, sweet talk doesn't always work, kiddo. Sometimes you just got to be tough.
Lisa Mulligan: What happened?
Nick: Well, I I know it ain't your style, but sometimes throwing your weight around and showing them who's boss is is the only way.
Lisa Mulligan: Yeah. I guess you're right. Thanks.
Nick: No, I'm sorry. What did you just say?
Lisa Mulligan: I said thanks.
Nick: No, I I meant the other part.
Lisa Mulligan: I guess you're right.
Nick: Well, what a delightful phrase. Music to my ears.
Lisa Mulligan: Nick.
Nick: I guess you're right. Well, I tell you, a man could really get spoiled here in those words.
Lisa Mulligan: Then I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Nick: Well, thanks. I know I could depend on you.
Lisa Mulligan: Don't mention it. Hey, where's my bird?
Nick: Looks like he's heading on home.
Lisa Mulligan: Oh, well, I guess we should get back then.
Nick: Your wish is my command.
Lisa Mulligan: It was only that easy.
Chris: Want to contact us about the episodes you're hearing? Visit our website at adventuresinodyssey.com or talk to someone at Focus on the Family. Call 1 800 A Family with a parent's permission, of course. We always love hearing from you.
Lisa Mulligan: Hey, Nick.
Nick: Hey. You get those wounds cleaned up?
Lisa Mulligan: Yeah, they weren't bad. He still isn't eating?
Nick: No. Your mom's putting in a call to the university. I guess this isn't exactly everyday veterinarian stuff.
Lisa Mulligan: It's too bad you're having so much trouble.
Nick: Yeah, right.
Lisa Mulligan: No, I'm serious. I know you're doing the best that you can, but
Nick: But
Lisa Mulligan: Well, have you tried being nice to him?
Nick: Lisa, I've tried being everything to him.
Lisa Mulligan: Okay, okay. Well, hi there, cutie. You know, you should really try eating for your uncle Nick. Yes, you should. Hm. All you need to do is Nick.
Nick: I see it.
Lisa Mulligan: When I press on his trunk he opens his mouth.
Nick: I see, I see.
Lisa Mulligan: Here, give me the bottle.
Nick: Okay, here you go. Hey, he's starting to drink.
Lisa Mulligan: Good boy. At a boy.
Nick: Way to go. Come on, keep it up.
Lisa Mulligan: And look, when I let up on his trunk
Nick: He stops.
Tracy Mulligan: Good news, kids. I just got off the phone with
Lisa Mulligan: Look, mom. Gus is drinking.
Nick: He's really putting it down.
Lisa Mulligan: All we had to do is press on his trunk.
Tracy Mulligan: That's right. It makes him think his mother is above him. I I I just got off the phone with the university. But it doesn't look like you needed their help after all.
Nick: You got that right. Those boys at zoo you don't got nothing over us, right, Leese?
Lisa Mulligan: Right.
Nick: All it takes is the right approach and a little teamwork.
Tracy Mulligan: I see.
Lisa Mulligan: He's right, mom. You know, being different doesn't have to be a bad thing.
Nick: Yeah. Not if you learn how to use those differences. At a boy. Keep putting it down.
Tracy Mulligan: I think I might be beginning to understand.
Lisa Mulligan: Who's that?
Tracy Mulligan: It looks like Mr. Whitaker. He's got a couple of passengers with him.
John Avery Whitaker: Already? Listen, Nick, Lisa we didn't get a chance to talk to you guys, but
Nick: Look, looks like a couple of kids.
John Avery Whitaker: Hey, guys. Is that Whitaker's van? He's a little early, isn't he?
Nick: Early for what?
John Avery Whitaker: Nick, remember when we were talking about how differences in people can be good? You know, and how those differences don't just have to be between men and women?
Nick: Yeah.
John Avery Whitaker: Well,
Michael Mulligan: Hello there, folks.
Nick: Hi, Whit.
Tracy Mulligan: Hi, Whit.
John Avery Whitaker: I'm sorry we were early. I want you to meet a couple of good friends of mine. Girls, come on over here. Jessica, Janelle these are the Mulligans. Tracy, Michael their daughter Lisa and her cousin Nick. You're going to be staying with them for a while.
Tracy Mulligan: Hi, girls.
Lisa Mulligan: Hi.
Olivia: Hi.
Nick: You guys, you're well, you're
Tracy Mulligan: Twins?
Nick: Well, yeah, but uh
Tracy Mulligan: What? You've got something against twins?
Nick: No, I uh
Janelle: Maybe it's cuz we are black.
Nick: Uh uh what's that?
Janelle: She says maybe you've got something against African-American.
Nick: No, no, no. I uh it's just well, you're both uh
Lisa Mulligan: Don't worry about Nick. He's just learning to appreciate women.
Tracy Mulligan: So have you folks had dinner?
John Avery Whitaker: Well, we were going to swing by Biffy's Burgers, but they were closed, so
Tracy Mulligan: Oh, we've got plenty. Come on in.
John Avery Whitaker: Well, if you're sure it's no bother.
Tracy Mulligan: Oh, no, no, no. The more the merrier. I'll help you like meat though. We've got a few leftovers from lunch.
Janelle: I love meat. Oh.
Nick: Unfortunately Jessica here, she's more the vegetarian type.
Jessica: Oh. So do either of you two like animals?
Lisa Mulligan: It depends on how they're cooked.
John Avery Whitaker: Well, I really appreciate you opening up your home like this, Tracy. You think things will work out?
Tracy Mulligan: I'm sure. Nothing we can't handle. With God, it's a piece of cake. Isn't that right, Michael?
John Avery Whitaker: Uh yeah, right. Uh piece of cake. Just another day in the life of the magnificent Maim and Cripple.
Chris: In the 12th chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul writes, there are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of activity, but in all of them and in everyone, the same God is active. And each of us, the spirit is seen to be at work for some useful purpose. You know, in today's story, we've seen how the Mulligan family have come to see firsthand how their differences can work together for a common good. So rather than fight with or insult one another about our differences, we should stop and ask how God is using our differences to help us all grow in Jesus. It isn't always easy, but it's something we should all learn to do. Thank you for joining us for another adventure with the magnificent Mulligans. I'd love to hear what you think of this very unusual family. Please send your cards or letters to Adventures in Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995 or Canada write to Box 9800 Vancouver, BC V6B 4G3. And when you write, ask about how you can get your own copy of today's episode. It's called Viva la Difference. Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. Viva la Difference was written and directed by Bill Myers. Our production engineer was Todd Busteed. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.