Addictions Can Be Habit Forming

Stephanie can't stop eating - pizza after pizza at Whit's End - and her friend Joey is determined to fix her. Joey's help quickly turns bossy: she trashes Stephanie's lunch, rations her to a single apple, and even calls Officer Harley over a secretly ordered pizza. Soon the two friends are shouting, and Stephanie accuses Joey of trying to starve her. Meanwhile, old locomotive number seven keeps wrecking on the model railroad, and everyone but Whit says it's ready for the scrap pile... until he finds one tiny screw tightened too far. Whit shows Joey the same is true of her friend: the overeating is only what shows on the outside, and no one can force away a hurt they can't see. So Joey stops policing and starts praying - and weeks later, Stephanie's family is headed to counseling, seven pounds are gone, and number seven is rolling down the track again.

Found on The Officer Harley Collection Album OH · 12 episodes

The run See every episode

0005 Gifts for Madge and Guy At Whit's End, a Christmas squabble over what to buy a friend prompts Whit to tell the story of a penniless young couple, each determined to give the other a perfect gift.

0006 The Day After Christmas A bored girl with a pile of unwanted Christmas presents tags along on a charity trip to the poor side of town, where a forbidden detour teaches her what real riches look like.

0007 Promises, Promises New in town and new to her job at Whit's End, teenage Connie Kendall bets her boss Whit that sheer willpower is enough to make a person better - and puts it in writing.

0008 Dental Dilemma A little girl's fearless first trip to the dentist takes a dark turn when her big brother whispers a terrifying "secret" about what really happens in the chair.

0009 Doing Unto Others Determined to live out the Golden Rule, a well-meaning boy discovers that even his kindest gestures keep backfiring in ways he never expected.

0010 Nothing to Fear A girl who's afraid of everything is lured into a prank that leaves her facing her worst fear in a pitch-black basement.

0011 Addictions Can Be Habit Forming When Joey appoints herself the food police for a struggling friend, she learns that fixing what someone does means nothing until you understand why they do it.

0012 The Tangled Web When Connie asks for the afternoon off while hiding her real plans, Whit hands her one of his old stories to read aloud - a tale about a boy whose one small lie spirals wildly out of control.

0013 Bobby's Valentine When a classmate showers Bobby Novak with love notes he never asked for, everyone's advice on how to make it stop only makes things more complicated.

0014 Missed it by that Much A chronically late girl gets a nightmarish glimpse of where her tardiness could lead - and one morning to prove she can change.

0015 My Brother's Keeper Fed up with his pesky six-year-old brother, Phillip asks Whit for help getting rid of Dean - and learns to be careful what you wish for.

0016 No Stupid Questions A curious ten-year-old girl with endless questions and nowhere to go after school finds a welcome at Whit's End - and crosses paths with a bitter man who wants to be left alone.

1 of 2 0017 A Member of the Family When his pampered nine-year-old grandson arrives in Odyssey for the summer, Whit discovers that love sometimes means holding the leash tight.

Featured characters

Minor characters & crew 3 more roles

3 supporting roles

Bobby (a) Katie Leigh Stephanie Rebekah Trout Joey Donovan Amy Trout

Made by

Chris Anthony Host Jim Adams Writer Steve Harris Writer · Director Bob Luttrell Sound Designer

The story

Read the full synopsis 2 min

Joey Donovan helps Whit operate the large model railroad at Whit’s End. She warns that old locomotive number seven has become unreliable, but Whit refuses to discard an old friend without another chance. The engine enters a tunnel, jumps the track, and causes a collision that leaves Joey convinced it belongs in the scrap pile.

Nearby, Joey’s friend Stephanie eats several small pizzas and asks for another to take home. Bobby mocks her weight and appetite until Connie stops him. Stephanie pretends she is accustomed to such cruelty, but Joey recognizes that she is hurting and begins searching for a way to help.

Officer Harley finds Joey reading a diet book and offers several ridiculous plans, including green food coloring and tackling Stephanie whenever she reaches for food. Joey then asks Stephanie whether she has tried dieting. Stephanie has attempted many diets but always gives up. Reluctantly, she agrees to let Joey stay close and help her resist temptation.

Joey’s concern quickly becomes harsh control. She throws away Stephanie’s lunch, allows her only an apple, and prevents her from approaching almost any food. Stephanie secretly orders a pizza at Whit’s End, but Joey catches her and calls for Officer Harley to stop a supposed theft. After the misunderstanding is cleared up, the two girls quarrel. Stephanie accuses Joey of trying to starve her, and Joey bitterly tells her to remain overweight if that is what she wants.

Whit explains that Joey has focused only on what Stephanie does rather than why she does it. Avoiding a harmful habit in the first place may require simply saying no, but an established addiction has deeper causes. Stephanie’s overeating may be connected to pain or trouble that Joey cannot see, and forcing her to stop eating cannot heal what is happening inside.

Whit demonstrates the difference with old number seven. A tiny screw controlling the front wheels had been tightened too far, preventing the locomotive from turning in the tunnel. The wrecks were only the visible result; once Whit finds the hidden cause, he can repair the engine instead of throwing it away.

Joey does not know what has caused Stephanie’s struggle, and Whit tells her to admit that honestly. She can remain a faithful friend, listen when Stephanie is ready to speak, and refuse to pretend that self-destructive behavior is harmless. Most importantly, she can pray, because only God can make the deepest changes within another person. Joey immediately asks God to reveal Stephanie’s real need and use her in whatever way will help.

Several weeks later, Stephanie reports that her mother has agreed to attend counseling with the girls. For the first time, she believes the problems in her family may improve. She has also lost seven pounds through healthier progress rather than Joey’s forceful supervision. As repaired number seven circles the track again, both the locomotive and Stephanie show why a struggling friend deserves patient investigation, prayer, and another chance.