The Hamburger Obsession

In Anchorage, Alaska, a man named Matt, who was a Costco shopper, walked to his car and started packing his food.

When he heard a swoosh sound. "What is that?" questioned Matt looking around and taking ten steps away from his car, confused. Hearing another swoosh, he immediately saw two ravens stealing some of his hamburger meat.

"Stop that, you pieces of trash that's mine," roared Matt, swatting the birds away. "Those stupid birds just took away my meat. Karen is going to kill me," he grumbled, getting into his car and driving off.

When Matt got home, he noticed his wife had already prepared the grill.

"Let's make some burgers," smiled his wife.

"Yeah, sure, honey," stammered Matt taking the groceries out of the car.

"Hey, where is the hamburger meat?" asked Karen looking in the bags.

"I forgot to grab it out of the car," replied Matt.

"Ok, honey bunches, but remember if you’re lying to me, I'll know, and let's just say you don't want to lie to me," threatened Karen.

"Honey, I would never lie to you," promised Matt as he walked back to the car.

"Good," said Karen.

Opening the car trunk, Matt immediately started looking for the meat. "Ok, good, those stinky ravens didn't take all the meat," he mumbled.

"What was that my snuggly little bear?" inquired Karen.

"I can't wait to make some burgers tonight," stuttered Matt walking to the grill.

"Me too; I'm hungry," said Karen.

Matt put the meat on the grill and started marinating it when suddenly his wife noticed that the remaining meat had holes in it and started yelling over and over, "That's gross, we should take it back."

"Karen, we can't take it back. I already started cooking it," said Matt.

"Listen here, sweetheart, we are taking that meat back, and the next time this happens, it'll be a bad time for you," ordered Karen.

"Karen, it was only 4-by-7 inches of hamburger; the ravens didn't take all of it. Plus, they’re very fat, so I think they've got a whole system there." Matt protested.

"Listen here, hubby, I already told you who the boss is, and I tolerate you every single day, so if you know what's good for you. You'll get in that car and drive me to Costco," warned Karen.

"Ah, I mean honey, do you want to go to Costco with me," stammered Matt.

"Oh sugarplum, you always know what I want; just let me go grab my purse, and we'll be on our way," cheered Karen.

When the couple got to Costco, Karen had an excited look on her face. "What's the smile for?" asked Matt.

"Oh, I'm just excited to get some cheeseburgers," screeched Karen.

"Okay, I’m sorry for the way I acted?" said Matt.

"I know, silly billy," chuckled Karen grabbing her purse out of the car.

When the couple walked in, Karen immediately walked up to one of the sales associates and said, "Hello, I was wondering if I could have a refund for this and an exchange for some more hamburger meat."

"Sorry, madam, I can't do that. You don't have a receipt, and that meat looks like it's already been eaten." the sales associate replied.

"Okay, I think I have the receipt out in my car. Let me grab it," Karen smiled.

"Madam, I'm sorry, but I can't give you a refund," said the sales associate.

"La, la, la not listening," screamed Karen walking out of the store.

"Please just give her what she wants," begged Matt.

"Sir, I can't do that," the sales associate grumbled.

"Can't do what?" shouted Karen.

"I can’t give you a refund?" replied the sales associate.

"Give me what I want," cackled Karen.

"Stop," shrieked the sales associate.

"That's not what I want to hear," hollered Karen.

"Fine, take as much hamburger meat as you want," cried the sales associate.

"Thank you," smiled Karen immediately heading to the meat aisle.

"Come on, Munchkin, we don't waste time," laughed Karen.

"Okay," stammered Matt. When the couple got some hamburger meat and left Coscos, everyone sighed in relief. The moral of the story is be careful who you choose to be friends with. Choose your friends wisely. Proverbs 12:26 says, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

Who you hang out with is who you are. When we choose to hang out with bad influences, we are influenced to do bad things. When we decide to hang out with good influences, we are influenced to do good things. In short, who we let in our life can either make or break us. Even at Bible College, if that person encourages you not to do your homework or even skip class, that person is not a true friend. If that person talks badly about you, that person is not a true friend. A true friend is someone who constantly encourages you and keeps you accountable. A true friend encourages you to do your homework and not skip class. A true friend doesn't talk behind your back. So who are you going to let influence you?