As summer came on Itchus rapidly grew worse. He became so nervous that even the sound of the motor on his lawn mower sent him into a tail spin. This was when he began to stay home on Sunday to clean his boat, polish his water skis and study his maps. At night he frequently dreamed of a long hot dusty trail.
By the time June arrived poor old Itchus became so compulsive about the outdoors that he began to buy all the latest and most expensive camping equipment and all the while his footus was itchusing unmercifully.
The very day the kids got out of school Itchus dragged the family into the car and they hit the road for the annual vacation. How sweet it was! Itchus de Footus was on the move again.
When they left home Itchus decided they didn’t have room for any Sunday-go-to-meetin’ clothes. There was no room for their Bibles either. "Oh, well,” he sighed, "this is a change of pace.”
In no time at all Itchus forgot about the place where the family sat for worship. He didn’t seem to mind that his Sunday School class became discouraged by his long absences. Fortunately, he remembered that he had failed to leave his offering for the church, but he knew he could make it up at the end of the year after he had paid for the summer fun. Eventually he decided that he was so far behind that he couldn’t spare that much money just for the church.
Poor Itchus! When his kids became teenagers they dropped out of Sunday School. After all they got along without it during the summer. Why did they need it any other time? Mrs. Footus had long ago become so involved in the “club” that she was just too worn out to even go to church. So Itchus dropped out also. In fact, his itchus became so chronic that he "hot footused” it out to the local lake every Sunday.
Meanwhile, back at the church things began to happen. Teaching got better. Interest improved. Families began to attend together. But Itchus and his family missed it all. The kids were in trouble, Mom was at the club, Dad was at the lake, and the family was in shambles.
Learn a lesson from pore ole Itchus. When summer comes and the footus begins to itchus, be strong. Put your footus down at the very first sign of the itchus!
–adapted from John T. Sisemore