1 More Day...to do the RIGHT thing

Craig Groeschel tells a story of him being overpaid at a convenience store.  He was in a hurry so when he received his change, he quickly stuffed it in his pocket and headed out the door.  It wasn't until he got in his car that he saw the cashier had given him too much - "like, way to much."  Although he was excited about this extra cash, he knew he had to take it back.  

He waited till the cashier was free and then let her know she had given him back too much money.  He writes that her eyes welled up with tears as she said she couldn't believe he brought the money back.  Over and over she thanked him for doing the right thing.  

Craig says he was taken back by what appeared to him as her totally overreacted.  He didn't seem to think it was that big of a deal.  She told him he had no idea what a big deal it was.  You see, this wasn't the first time she had done this.  Every time it happened, she has had to pay whatever she went over. She said her boss was gong to fire her if it happened again.  And as a single mom, she couldn't afford to lose her job.  

Over and over the lady thanked Craig and said, "I just can't believe you brought the money back!"  

Just this week I was with our school's drill team on their spring break.  We stopped along the Santa Monica Pier to do some shopping at the little stores along the boardwalk.  After my group of young ladies had made their purchases, we began walking down the pier.  We had gone about 200 yards when this lady came running up from behind us to give us $1 that one of the young ladies had overpaid.  

I must admit we were all a little shocked that this store owner would leave her post to run after us to return $1.  One dollar - that was it.  What a moment it was. What a valuable lesson it was for us.  That store owner could've kept that $1 and no one would have probably ever realized it.  But she didn't.  

Isn't it tragic that we live in a world where people are more shocked by a display of integrity than a lack of it?  It seems like we are more surprised when someone does the right thing instead of the wrong.  

When David asks the Lord who may dwell in his sanctuary, the Lord answers: "The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous..." (acts with integrity) Psalm 15:2