REWARDING HONESTY

by Danna Shirley

I recently saw a teenager being rewarded on a national television program for returning a wallet found at an airport. It is always refreshing to see the young being honest when so many people aren’t these days.

I recalled the same happening to me at the mall in Gautier, MS probably thirty years earlier. My husband and I were having a quick bite while shopping. I was going to CA for a visit so I had bags and packages that I set on the empty chair while we ate at Chick-fil-A. Finishing, I grabbed my packages and we walked out to the main mall. Soon a young man stopped us to say I had left my purse back at Chick-fil-A. My heart stopped as I realized my plane tickets, credit card, cash, etc. were in my purse. It would have been a disaster to have lost all of those just days before my departure.

I returned with him to a mountain of relief. I stopped at his table to thank him and his mother for raising an honest son and pulled out $20 as his reward. The mother said it wasn’t necessary but I said her son needed to realize there is always a reward for honesty. It was a lesson learned for both of us and I hope it carried him through the rest of his life.

 

My reward was insignificant compared to being recognized on national television. The reason for such exposure of the television reward—the found wallet belonged to Chris Hemsley—Thor!

Each was a testimony, however, of this godly virtue.

"Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,

who conduct their affairs with justice." (Ps 112:5)

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

when it is in your power to act." (Prov 3:27)