I say, If everybody in this house lives where it's God first

Opening Scene – Narrated by Host
The sun sets low on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and crimson. Inside, the small kitchen is warm with the soft hum of an old refrigerator and the clinking of dishes. The smell of freshly baked bread hangs in the air, and the light from a single hanging bulb casts a soft glow on the faces of Jack and Jeeny. They sit across from one another at the kitchen table, a pot of coffee between them, each holding a cup, their eyes not quite meeting but speaking volumes.

The room feels comfortable, the hum of life in the background—a place that feels like it has always existed, filled with the quietness of a long day’s end.

Host: Jack takes a slow sip from his cup, watching Jeeny with an almost absent gaze. Jeeny, however, seems lost in thought, her fingers gently tapping the table, lost in the rhythm of the conversation that hasn’t yet begun.

Character Descriptions

Jack: A man who finds solace in routine. Tall, lean, with a face that holds shadows of uncertainty beneath his sharp features. His grey eyes are observant, skeptical, and his voice is a steady hum of realism. Jack isn’t easily swayed, but there’s a quiet vulnerability beneath his stoic exterior, a longing for something he doesn’t quite understand.

Jeeny: Small in stature but fierce in spirit. Her long black hair frames her delicate face, and her deep brown eyes are the windows to her soul—full of passion and idealism. She is the heart of the conversation, always seeking the emotional truth beneath the surface. Her voice is a gentle force, unwavering in its sincerity.

Host: The observer, the silent presence. The atmosphere is thick with anticipation, a quiet tension like a breeze before a storm. The room feels alive, but only just—held together by the unspoken undercurrents of Jack and Jeeny’s growing conversation.

Main Debate

Jeeny: (placing her cup down gently, her eyes meeting Jack’s for the first time, soft but serious) “You ever think about what makes a house a home, Jack? I mean, really think about it.”

Jack: (glancing at her, his voice steady but cautious) “Sure, I’ve thought about it. It’s just a place where you’re supposed to be able to relax, right? Where things are… simple.”

Jeeny: (shaking her head, her voice more earnest now) “No, it’s more than that. It’s where you learn who you really are. It’s where your values shape you. Jeff Foxworthy once said, ‘I say, If everybody in this house lives where it’s God first, friends and family second, and you third, we won’t ever have an argument.’ Think about that. If everyone in this house lives by those rules, there’s no room for selfishness. There’s no room for all the things that tear people apart.”

Jack: (scoffing lightly, leaning back in his chair, his hands clasped behind his head) “That’s a nice thought, Jeeny. But come on. The real world doesn’t work that way. People argue. Families argue. It’s in our nature to put ourselves first, no matter how much we pretend otherwise.”

Jeeny: (sitting up straighter, her tone gentle, but firm) “But that’s the thing, Jack. It’s not about pretending. It’s about choosing to live with a higher purpose. If you truly put God first, everything else falls into place. If you put family and friends second, then the selfishness fades. And that’s where the magic happens. It’s about creating a space where you’re not focused on your own desires all the time. Where you’re not looking for something to prove you’re right, but just looking for ways to be better.”

Jack: (his eyebrows raised, voice more skeptical now) “You make it sound so simple, like we can just flip a switch and suddenly, there’s peace. But people don’t just give up their own needs for the sake of someone else. We’re all trying to survive, Jeeny. We can’t just set aside what we want or need, not all the time. People will argue, no matter what.”

Jeeny: (softly, but with a spark in her voice) “But what if that’s where we’ve been going wrong? What if the real struggle isn’t about getting what we want but about being able to serve one another? If we all truly lived with those values—God first, then friends and family, then the world would be a lot less selfish, a lot more connected.”

Jack: (leaning forward, his voice sharp, but with a trace of doubt creeping in) “And you think that’s going to make people stop fighting? You think that’s going to stop us from wanting to be right all the time? Because at the end of the day, everybody wants to win. They want to prove they’re the one who knows the right way.”

Jeeny: (eyes narrowing slightly, her tone passionate now) “Not if they understand the bigger picture, Jack. Winning isn’t about being right all the time. It’s about understanding each other. If we all took a moment to think about the people we love, the people who depend on us, instead of putting ourselves first all the time, we’d see that the real reward comes from those connections. The real victory is in putting the needs of those around you ahead of your own.”

Host: The room is filled with the soft sounds of their conversation, but outside the window, a gentle breeze stirs the trees, carrying with it the scent of fresh rain. The moment feels still, as though their words have created a space where time has paused to listen.

Jack: (his voice softer now, contemplative, almost a whisper) “Maybe… maybe I’ve been too focused on me. On winning. Maybe I’ve missed something by always thinking I’m the one who has to be in control. But still… how do you stop people from getting lost in their own desires? From losing sight of what really matters?”

Jeeny: (a quiet smile tugging at her lips, her voice gentle, almost knowing) “By reminding them. By living with the understanding that the real strength comes from the bonds we create with others. When we put God first, we find humility. When we put family and friends second, we find purpose. And when we put ourselves last, we find peace.”

Host: The coffee between them grows cold, forgotten in the wake of the conversation. The tension, once palpable, seems to ease. The room, though small, seems to expand with the quiet understanding between Jack and Jeeny. The world outside continues to turn, but for a brief moment, inside this kitchen, their hearts are aligned in the simplest of truths.

Climax and Reconciliation

Jack: (sighs, his voice calm, his eyes looking down at his hands) “I guess it’s something I’ve got to think about more. I’ve been so focused on getting things right… maybe it’s time I thought about what’s right for everyone else, too.”

Jeeny: (reaching out, her voice soft and reassuring) “It’s never too late, Jack. We all just have to try.”

Host: Outside, the rain begins to fall, steady and rhythmic, a quiet reminder of the ebb and flow of life. Jack and Jeeny sit in the warmth of the moment, a silence settling between them, not heavy but comforting. In this small kitchen, under the dim light, a shift has occurred—subtle, but profound.