Angela Klinske
"The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them." (Proverbs 20:7, TNIV)
One day in second grade I had a friend over after school. She brought with her a small package of shiny star stickers—the decals teachers use on merit charts. I really wanted them. So when she wasn’t looking, I hid them under my bed. She left thinking she had lost them. I told her I would bring them to school the next day if I found them.
I never did confess, and long after she moved out of my neighborhood and out of my life I would find random star stickers throughout my room—in the desk drawer, under the bed, in the carpet—constant reminders of the wrong I had done to my friend.
Recently, I’ve been tested again in the areas of honesty and integrity, and it started me thinking: How often do we take from others what isn’t really ours? Whether intentional or not, how much we “steal” from others may be surprising to discover.
What about wasting time at work, taking others for granted, and even taking a few extra packets of ketchup or a stack of 20 napkins at a fast food restaurant? Isn’t that stealing too?
It may be easy to decide we’re not going to rob a bank, but what about taking supplies from the office? Or doing a poor job so that someone else has to spend their time and do it over? Or continually making others wait when we’re running late?
I recently took my children to a local attraction and purchased tickets for a tram ride. The driver told me it would cost $1 for each child, but when I got to the ticket booth I saw price the posted as $2 for children over 12 (my oldest is 13). I could have saved $1 and moved on, but that would have been dishonest. It wasn’t worth a dollar to cheat.
Yesterday, my husband and I were appreciative when the owners of our former home (which we moved from four years ago!) notified us that we had received a check at their address. That small act of honesty meant a lot to us. We know it was inconvenient for them, and we thanked them with a gift card to their neighborhood coffee shop.
Every time we take something that isn’t truly ours, like those shiny little stars scattered around my childhood bedroom, we scatter a little distrust, and our light begins to lose its luster. But every act of honesty makes our lights shine brighter, which, hopefully, will encourage others to follow our example.
Today, I ask God for the wisdom to help me make right choices so that I won’t take what isn’t mine. I’ll also express thankfulness to others who don’t take what is meant for me.
How about you, Reader, do your actions match your words? What are areas in your life where you might be “stealing” from others or from God?
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, Today’s New International Version®. TNIV®. Copyright© 2001, 2005 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
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2 comments:
Good reminders for us all to honestly check what areas in our lives we may be stealing from--areas we don't necessarily think to evaluate. Thank you for sharing, Angela.
Teresa
I loved the images of the little stars as reminders of the dishonesty that still lingered from the past. I see evidence of that in my life as well and try my hardest to clean up those stars by giving back what wasn't rightfully mine, confessing and asking the person I wronged for forgiveness. I am so thankful that we have a God that knows where all our 'stars' are and forgives us when we confess our wrongs. 1 John 1:9 NIV says,"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." I'm so glad that God helps me with who I am becoming and encourages me to become a person who makes right choices.
Thank you, Angela! This is always a good reminder!
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