Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Hard Life Lesson

Some life lessons are HARD to learn and even HARDER to teach. Yesterday, the girls and I ran into the grocery store for one item. I decided to use the self checkout and as I was scanning my item, Sierra pointed to the change tray and said, "Hey look Momma! Money!". Sure enough, the person before us(who was already long gone) had left $20 in the change tray. Oh how badly I wanted to keep that money. My 4 year old was watching though. Do I take the money and take her out for lunch, or do I turn in it? Man, I wanted that money. Really really wanted it. After I paid, I picked it up and frantically debated all 10 steps to the cashier station. I have to be honest, had my kids not been there, I think I may have taken it. In the end though, I handed it to the cashier and let her know someone had left their change. I barely got an "oh, okay", not even a thank you, certainly not any sort of monetary reward for being so nice and not taking it. For all I know, the cashier kept it for herself. All the way out of the store I was mentally kicking myself thinking maybe I should have just taken it after all. I mean, all through elementary school you learn, "finders keepers", right? When we got to the car, Sierra was buckling her car seat and said, "Momma, you sure are nice for leaving that money. It wasn't ours, so it wouldn't be right to keep it". SIGH! So it turns out I did the right thing after all. Man, it was hard though!

5 comments:

TennZen said...

Bravo for you, and what a wonderful example you've set in front of those little eyes that are always watching. Bravo also for sharing the story here, including your inner struggle in weighing the "right" thing versus the "needful" thing.

I know it's tough, especially in today's economic times. But imagine if the situation was reversed. Imagine if you'd left the store in a rush and forgotten your change... and it was your very last 20 dollars. Wouldn't you be grateful if someone had turned it in?

And don't forget the saying, "what goes around comes around." You'll be rewarded. In fact, I think you already have been... in your daughter's eyes.

Cottonpickinfarm said...

I can't add to anything that TennZen said, but I wanted to give you a hardy congratulations on doing the right thing. And Thank You for your honesty.

It's encouraging to know that there are still people (I want to believe a lot) who do the right thing.

Anonymous said...

I'm so very proud of you. I know how hard that had to have been. But what a great example you are, and what a wonderful lesson that was for Sierra. She will always have that within her to draw on. You are such a good mom and I'm so proud of you.

Dr. White said...

Ditto everyone else's comments. Those little ones do keep us accountable, don't they? You taught Sierra such a wonderful lesson and you grew about two feet taller in her eyes!

Rebecca said...

Good for you! And yes...such a hard life lesson...

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