“Memory”… I will keep…
Have you been confronted with a question… and you had to decide to tell the truth 
or not?…
Have you ever kept something 
that you knew was not yours?…
Have you ever done anything you knew was wrong? 
…
Have you ever looked the other way 
when an incident happens… that you didn’t like?…
Have you talked about someone behind their back… 
knowing you shouldn’t be doing that?…
Have you ever cheated while playing a game?…
Have you ever not paid 
for an item?…
Of course we have… if we are human…
My first memory of an incident like this was in the second grade…
I’m still very ashamed 
of my actions…
I changed a grade on a test 
…
Yes, I knew it was wrong… but, was so compelled to be as smart as certain kids
in my class… I did it!…
and Yes!, my teacher knew it… I remember so clearly walking up to her desk as she said, “This is not the grade I gave you.”
…
I felt so small… smaller than my 7 years…
She never mentioned it again… No talk with my Mom or Dad…
She seemed to know… by letting me know… that she knew the truth … was all that would be necessary
…
I think she felt my pain… my stomach ache 
… my shame…
Another incident… still burnt into my memory 
…
When I was still in Elementary School… a neighbor boy and I played every day and lots of times his Mom would fix us Alphabet Vegetable Soup 
which I thought was the neatest… Then, one day she had a package of Hostess Snowball Cupcakes for us to share…
Now if you remember... there was a pink one and a white one… I had never had such a treat… and loved the color pink… but, I noticed at the edge of the white snowball there was chocolate cake 
… I loved chocolate more than the color pink…
I was asked , “Which cupcake would you like?”… and I hurriedly said , “I want the white one!” 
… thinking mine would be chocolate cake and his would be white/yellow cake… That I had pulled a fast one on him!… but, to my surprise 
… Both Snowball cakes were chocolate cake with cream filling… and he had the pretty pink one to boot…
That’s what being deceitful and dishonest can get you… I had taught my own self this lesson 
… and just like the grade changing it has stayed with me to this day!
I’ve definitely had my share of shortcomings… I’m not perfect!…
When I found my Lord… I thought I would follow His ways 
and never do things that were wrong…
But, even now I keep being tempted…
I do know… that when I have done things that aren’t right… I usually pay for it in some way many times over…
So, now… I really consider my actions and have done that for a long time… Tempted???… Why yes!… but, my mind is stronger each time I fight the temptation 
…
Evidently… I have taught my children these values 
…
Because this is how an incident went down today…
I went to the Credit Union to withdraw some cash …
I had made out the withdrawal slip and sent it in through the drive-thru tube
…
When the envelope 
came back to me… I handed it to my son… and said, “Count it”…
I don’t always do this… I’m pretty trustworthy… which is something I’m working on…
Maybe that’s why I asked Doug to count my money… He says, “$1000.00” 
… I laugh and say… “You mean $600.00“… and he says, “$1000.00″… I’m laughing and I say, “You’re so funny!”… knowing that he is just joking 
me…
He proceeds to say it again, “There’s a $1000.00 in the envelope”… as he counts 
it in front of me…
I say, “You weren’t kidding!”…
He immediately says, “You have to give it back… She, can be fired for that”…
Of course I’m going to tell her and get this straightened out… as I look at my receipt…
I push the call button 
… and she says, “May I help you?”…
I say, “You’ve given me too much money… way too much!”…
She seems bewildered… I tell her, “I’m sending it back in”… and she is thanking
me all of the time I’m doing it… I can only imagine the thoughts running through her mind…
She still seems in shock as she recounts the money
… kinda mumbling that she remembers counting out that amount but, doesn’t have a clue as to why…
I’m thanked profusely… over and over… and wished a good day…
My son is still explaining to me why we had to return the money… even though she may have never known where it went…
But, like my son… I know what is the right thing to do… My young… self-taught experiences keep me honest… and knowing I would disappoint
my Lord … is enough for me…
*********************
A day has passed and I have not quite finished writing this blogging experience 
to push the “publish” button… when an unexpected surprise came in the mail 
…
I read the return address on what seemed to be a card… I didn”t know the name… didn’t know the address… Who could this be from?…
I open the card and begin to read…
“If There Were More People Like YOU in The World…
…There’d Be More Smiles Like Mine!… Thanks!
The words Mine and Thanks were underscored in ink…
and in a handwriting I also didn’t recognize was a note…
There are not enough words to express how much I appreciate what you did!!
I’m glad there are still honest, moral people in the world!!
Thank you again!
C……. Credit Union…
( I didn’t want to share her real name or name of the credit union… so I have hidden it from view)
All of a sudden it was clear!… The card was from the girl at the drive-thru at my credit union… where I had the money episode…
I was as flabbergasted 
by her actions as she was by mine!… To receive a note from this girl I had only spoken to through the speaker at the Credit Union drive-thru…
How awesome is that!
Another incident to burn into my brain!
- Honesty (liptwist.wordpress.com)
I use my “green thumb” to… try and keep a few flowers growing from year to year that were my Mother’s… A Red Rose who I call “Booker”… which was the last name of her friend that had given it to her… It has now been 15 years… and some Jonquils that she gave me when we moved to our home… which has now 26 years ago…
The secrets to life are… accepting yourself… Expect from others, only what you are able to do yourself… Give of yourself daily in some way… Love and have respect for your mate… Accept the Grace that the Lord offers… Keep family close!
I get my money’s worth by… being thrifty in shoppping … planning ahead… being resourceful…
On a scale of 1 to 10, my level of organization is… never 100%… but, I can usually put my hands on most everything… Taking notes and keeping a calendar helps me immensely!
A gentleman always… treats a woman respectfully!
Handwritten notes are… are the best way to convey thanks, appreciation and thoughtfulness!… It gives the receiver a feeling of being truly appreciated with the time/effort put into them!
“Heart Feelings” by: Marilyn Griffin
