Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that
they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
A 15-year-old boy learned a valuable lesson about life
principles. He wrote a letter to "Dear Abby" about finding a woman's
wallet that contained $127 as well as the woman's identification. He hopped
onto his bicycle and peddled over to her house - about a mile away. He told her
he found her wallet and she gave him a big hug. She also gave him twenty
dollars.
That evening the boy told his parents about the event and
his father said, "I don't think you should have accepted $20 for doing
what you should have done. A person shouldn't be rewarded for being
honest."
He pondered his father's statement and decided he would
return the money. He biked to the lady's home and gave her back the twenty
dollars. She didn't want to take it, but he told her she had to - that his
father pointed out something to him that he had never realized before. Her eyes
filled with tears as she said, "This is one for Ripley."
The boy's question to Abby? "Abby, who is
Ripley?"
Is a life built around principles so unusual that Robert
Ripley should mention it in his column "Believe It or Not"? When
ideals such as honesty and a personal standard of always doing the right thing
guide our every action and decision, we actually change. These great principles
shape our lives and make us into persons of character. They build self esteem
and teach confidence. That boy is fortunate to be raised by a wise father who
had the wisdom to say, "Those are my principles."
Dear Lord, we pray that our principles will be based on
the truth that we find in the Bible. We pray that the things we do will bring
others closer to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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