Please help my confusion....

[Proeliator]

On Friday we had a kind of weird thing happen, and I keep rethinking the way I dealt with it. We went to buy a little stuffed animal for the baby, and when we were done, the cashier gave me back $5 too much change. When we went for lunch, our next stop, I noticed this, because I ended up with more money than I started the day with. So we put the money to the side, and after we ate lunch went back and gave the cashier back the $5 extra we had received for change. When I did it then, I felt as though I had just done the right thing, and that was that. I started thinking later that night though, maybe that was God's way of blessing us with a little extra money, since we really don't have much to spare, especially with a newborn around now.

So, did I just do the right thing as I first thought, or did I refuse a little blessing from God?

 

[rmwilliamsll]

So, did I just do the right thing as I first thought

remember when taking exams you were told that your first impression is more often right than wrong?
same here.

 

[erin74]

I think you did the right thing.

God is not limited to how he can bless you. And you do not know what kind of impact someone returning money can make.

 

[calmcoolandelected]

On Friday we had a kind of weird thing happen, and I keep rethinking the way I dealt with it. We went to buy a little stuffed animal for the baby, and when we were done, the cashier gave me back $5 too much change. When we went for lunch, our next stop, I noticed this, because I ended up with more money than I started the day with. So we put the money to the side, and after we ate lunch went back and gave the cashier back the $5 extra we had received for change. When I did it then, I felt as though I had just done the right thing, and that was that. I started thinking later that night though, maybe that was God's way of blessing us with a little extra money, since we really don't have much to spare, especially with a newborn around now.

So, did I just do the right thing as I first thought, or did I refuse a little blessing from God?

You did the right thing! I've had that happen to me several times and when I tried to give the money back they looked at me like I was NUTS!

CC&E

 

[bradfordl]

You know you did the right thing, Shad, that's why you did it. I don't know if you've ever worked a cash register, but coming up short is not a good thing, and the money was not yours, so it would be ill-gotten. When God provides, He provides in ways that leave no doubt that what He gives is yours.

And you got to glorify your Father in heaven before the cashier by doing that right thing.

 

[Rick Otto]

is a conscience.

 

[flaglady]

Amen - very much the right thing.

I worked on the buses once (long, long time ago) and gave somebody change for the wrong note. I had a suspicion I had as the person's eyes lit up when he saw how much change I had given him. I wasn't able to confirm it until I cashed up at the end of the shift and then I had to make that money up out of my own pocket!

God will bless you for your honesty.

 

[McWilliams]

When my husband first worked after graduating pharmacy school he was responsible for all the registers in the pharmacy and often had to make up the shortages that occurred resulting from other salespersons errors or shortcomings.
Honesty is truth and is what we are all held accountable for. When we fail to be honest someone else has to pay!
Accurate scales, accurate balance is what the Lord demands from His own!
You did right shadrach!

 

[heymikey80]

Right the first time -- if only our first inclinations were always so right.

All the more impressive given your situation and your surroundings.

Btw, are you now married? Inquiring profilers wanna know! Congrats.

 

[edie19]

On Friday we had a kind of weird thing happen, and I keep rethinking the way I dealt with it. We went to buy a little stuffed animal for the baby, and when we were done, the cashier gave me back $5 too much change. When we went for lunch, our next stop, I noticed this, because I ended up with more money than I started the day with. So we put the money to the side, and after we ate lunch went back and gave the cashier back the $5 extra we had received for change. When I did it then, I felt as though I had just done the right thing, and that was that. I started thinking later that night though, maybe that was God's way of blessing us with a little extra money, since we really don't have much to spare, especially with a newborn around now.

So, did I just do the right thing as I first thought, or did I refuse a little blessing from God?

I'm answering before reading the other responses.

You did the right thing and the blessings you receive will be all the greater for being obedient to God's commandments.

edie

 

[Nadiine]

On Friday we had a kind of weird thing happen, and I keep rethinking the way I dealt with it. We went to buy a little stuffed animal for the baby, and when we were done, the cashier gave me back $5 too much change. When we went for lunch, our next stop, I noticed this, because I ended up with more money than I started the day with. So we put the money to the side, and after we ate lunch went back and gave the cashier back the $5 extra we had received for change. When I did it then, I felt as though I had just done the right thing, and that was that. I started thinking later that night though, maybe that was God's way of blessing us with a little extra money, since we really don't have much to spare, especially with a newborn around now.

So, did I just do the right thing as I first thought, or did I refuse a little blessing from God?

A little personal confession - WAY back in my heathen days, I used to steal from stores (shoplift) quite regularly.
After coming to the Lord and turning from my old ways, it wasn't too long before I started getting TESTED heavily in this area of my life.

I hadn't realized how my thefts had become a weakness I had. So guess what areas I was constantly having thrown at me...
exactly what you experienced here, is what happened to me regularly.
I got "free" milk gallons and all sorts of goodies everywhere i went! And God always had me notice it, and I struggled with it out in the parking lots. LOL
I was so tempted to just load it in my car & go home.

I don't see this as 'blessing from God', because I ran a cash register before, and when you're "short", it's very serious and it can get you fired quickly.
I think you did the right thing by going back to return that.
God DOES bless our honesty in many ways. The fact that you felt an inner relief after returning the overage is another spiritual indicator that you've obeyed the Lord.

That's just my opinion and personal experience on both sides of this - it COULD be seen either way, but since you did become aware that the money was not fully 'yours', it becomes a responsibility imo.
=)

(ps. if you REALLY want to use that as a tool for God, when you go back to give the money/item back, TELL THEM YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN and use it for witness)

 

[edie19]

My daughter is a college student - she took a couple of classes over the summer at the local community college and had the credits transferred to her university. Anyhow, she checked ahead of time what books she would need for her courses, how much they would cost (she always comparison shops ) and ultimately ordered the books through the community college bookstore. When she picked them up the cost was about 1/2 of what she expected. She asked the clerk twice "are you sure that's the right amount?" only to be told (rather curtly) that it was correct.

When she got home and was putting her things away she looked at her receipt and saw that they hadn't billed her for a ~$100 book. So, she went back to the bookstore (about a 20-30 minute drive) with the book and receipt so she could pay for it. The response she received instead of a thank you was something to the effect of "I suppose you think you're really good now."

It takes all kinds.

edie

 

[heymikey80]

ROFL! Some people can't keep from hurting themselves by every good deed done to them.

I wouldn't have known what to say to that off the cuff. Any takers? What'd you say that might be redemptive in that case?

I would like to have them right at hand -- because I can't think that fast!

"I suppose you think you're really good now."

"Not me, my God. I believe in following what He tells me."
"My God tells me to care about you."
"You think it was easy for me to come back and pay this much more?"

 

[Proeliator]

I thnk I would have said along the same lines as what you thought of.
"Nope, but my God is!"

 

[edie19]

ROFL! Some people can't keep from hurting themselves by every good deed done to them.

I wouldn't have known what to say to that off the cuff. Any takers? What'd you say that might be redemptive in that case?

I would like to have them right at hand -- because I can't think that fast!

"I suppose you think you're really good now."

"Not me, my God. I believe in following what He tells me."
"My God tells me to care about you."
"You think it was easy for me to come back and pay this much more?"

See, you're obviously much nicer than I am. My response probably would have been something to the effect of - "My paycheck wouldn't have been the one shorted for the error."

 

[McWilliams]

OK. lets try this one for opinions!

While walking along the frozen food aisle this morning in the grocery store, right in front of me on the floor was a whole brand new book of postage stamps! I picked it up and pondered what to do with it. Give it to the check out clerk; what, to sell again, or to keep? To loudly ask,'did anyone lose a book of stamps?'; hmmm. There was not one person around. As I neared the front of the store toward the check out I looked around to see if anyone was looking for anything; not a soul! Finally I said to myself, 'Thank you Lord for this gift! I pray for whomever had this loss, that you would somehow compensate them also in some way! Thank you for blessing my day!'
Somehow on leaving the store I didnt feel wonderful, thinking of someone who had dropped an $7.80 book of stamps!
Should I have done more in an effort to find the loser?
How does one identify a lost book of stamps?

 

[McWilliams]

Afterthought: My daughter says they have Lost and Found for such losses as that so I plan to return the stamps and hope the owner comes to ask if they were turned in!
Makes me feel better!

 

[Nadiine]

OK. lets try this one for opinions!

Somehow on leaving the store I didnt feel wonderful, thinking of someone who had dropped an $7.80 book of stamps!
quote]

Hi again! =)

As I read your short story here, the above portion of your dialog stuck out to me.

I keep hearing about the inner guilt we feel when we stop to think about what we just got 'blessed' with. lol
Does God lead us to feel conviction when He's giving us a free blessing (even at someone elses expense?).

I think each instance is different and maybe some things really are given to us by God and it's possibly someone elses loss (maybe it's a form of God's jugment in their loss for all I know).

But I think this might be an individual inner conviction type thing? I can only act on what I personally feel conviction for and count on the Lord that He will keep and sustain me in all my needs.

Nice to see all you guys again!! I missed you.

 

[McWilliams]

Guess this one was a 'no-win'! LOL, Once I'd sent the stamps back to the store via my daughter I felt I'd denied my little windfall from the Lord! No, the stamps were not mine. However, I guess after working so many years in psych I dont have a great amount of trust in the general population to ensure the stamps will be treated honorably! Strange dilemma, rather leaves me thinking that perhaps its best when something is just dropped into our lap with no means of returning it to its rightful owner, just thank the Lord and be quiet about it!!
Our kids, once grown, seem to think they know what's best for us! LOL, the tables have turned!!