I just read about a man who found a bag of money containing $7,000 while cleaning the streets in Alvin, Texas, and returned it! The doughnut shop owner who lost it was delighted and “shocked that someone was still honest”. The man who found it said the money was not worth more than his honor. I say “Hip-Hip-Hooray!” to a man who is so honest.
Reading this story reminded me of an incident that happened a couple weeks ago. As Bev and I was leaving a store she spotted a purse someone had left in a shopping cart. She picked up the lost purse and turned it in immediately. You can bet that the owner of the purse was surprised and happy. Another woman standing nearby, watching the scene unfold, had a shocked look on her face and she expressed her amazement that someone actually would return the purse.
Here’s the point–not everyone is a thief! There are a few honest and caring people in the world. It’s the fallen stars that get the most attention. Think about it–with millions of stars over-head staying true to their orbit, it is the fallen star that distracts us from their beauty. Even so, in the news world today it is mainly the bad news that makes the headlines. Don’t let the bad behavior of a few sour your attitude toward everyone else.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said,” If the stars appeared only one night every thousand years how we would marvel and appreciate them”. How true. Even so, the rarity of honesty, and other virtues, should get our attention and gain our appreciation. Next time you see someone do a good deed don’t let it go unnoticed. Expressing your admiration and appreciation can encourage people to do more of the same. Think about it!
