Crime Doesn't Pay but Honesty Does

I realized long ago the difference between right and wrong, and I know that there are gray areas as well. But when it comes to certain business transactions, there really is a right and a wrong. For instance, if I would tell someone they failed to give me enough change, then I certainly should tell them if they gave me too much. The same goes for merchandise and orders.

I recently received a large order from Target. After taking out the contents, I noticed a missing ink cartridge for my printer. I verified that it was included on the invoice and my credit card was charged. It was unusual for Target to make a mistake like that, but with the current situation for retailers, it was understandable. I double checked the box that came with lots of brown filler paper before filing a report. I was happy to receive a reply that another cartridge was being sent.

In the meantime, a neighbor noticed all my boxes in the garage that were awaiting break-down for recycling, including the one I just hastily added from Target. She mentioned her son likes boxes to ship items purchased from his ebay account. Reusing is better than recycling so I happily gave all the boxes to her.

More than a week later, she contacted me saying her son had found a color ink cartridge which apparently was caught in the brown filler paper. Well, that was embarrassing so I called Target to tell them it was my fault for not seeing the item and they should charge me for the replacement.

Surprise! They said not to worry and just enjoy the additional cartridge! I tried to explain again about it being my error, but the customer service rep insisted it wasn't a problem. I don't know if it would be too much trouble to charge my account or whether they just weren't used to people being honest. I thanked her profusely and vowed never to let this happen again.

Every time I've chosen to be honest about such matters (the only way I can sleep at night), it's met with a bit of shock on the merchant's end. They are always thankful of my call, but forgiving of the error. But why are they surprised? And why are we so surprised when someone finds a large sum of money and gives it back?

I think the first step in making this world a better place is to always do the right thing, or at least try, and we should expect that of others. Honesty should be a given, not something we need to praise as a rarity. It's always rewarded even if it's a better night's sleep. There are Biblical verses to address this, but I particularly like Luke 16:10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." As some might say, ain't it the truth!

Ground Hog COVID19 Days

The COVID19 scenario reminds me a little of Ground Hog Day. In February, we eagerly await the prognosticator,  Punxsutawney Phil to determine if he can see his shadow. That will tell us if there will be six more weeks of winter. Now, we eagerly await a vaccine or herd immunity to know if life can get back to normal. In some ways, I hope it doesn't.

I loved seeing people help other people and be concerned about about their welfare. I loved the less gang violence. If you are stuck at home on your own turf, you can't shoot your rivals. (Unfortunately, this resumed soon after mandates to stay home were lifted.) I loved seeing less conflict between races and authority figures (which also resumed)..

Now. I'm not naive enough to think it was all peachy-keen. It wasn't and still isn't. People lost jobs and are still trying to cover. Domestic violence increased, people put off medical visits that they really needed to attend, parents found it difficult to act as teachers to their children, and tax revenues dropped significantly so that it may be some time before much needed projects can be completed. There were plenty of other negatives, but there is still hope.

We watched our nation pull together, and we cannot forget that it can. We aided each other and practiced the love that God directs us to do, not just at Christmas, but every day. We expressed thanks and appreciation for essential workers who are often left in the shadows, and we realized how important each and everyone is to our own well-being. That's good, and a blessing.

So, no matter what happens going forth, no matter how long we have to wait, I hope we can take the good from our great challenges and keep it in our hearts for the future.

Now, something fun to do...

PUZZLE #19 WORD SCRAMBLE―BREAKFAST

NABR _____     LEARY______     QIEBUST_______     LJYEL_____     GANOER_______

CMBRDSALE  GESG __________  ____     NBSU_____     NABNAA  _________

TMOS  PTMTONRITA LAEM _____  ___________  _____     YPRSU_______     ETA____

GNAT_____     FALSWEF_________     RPECES______     RELCEA_______     MAJ____

GUAESSA_________     AHSH WOSBRN_____  ________     IUEJC______     

GEGS  ETDCBNEI____  _________     ONYHE______      CANBO______     GLABE______

LMTAOEA________     AIINRS  DAREB_______  _______     FOECFE________

PAFGUTRERI_____________  SCAPNKAE___________  YGORTU________

RNEHFC STOTA________  ______     UNDTO_______     SNACSIROT____________

CHQIUE________     TOSIMOHE__________     FNM IUF________     RGTSI_______

The Missing One

There are things in our lives we miss. Some are conveniences and some are necessities. But the most painful losses are the ones that take a little piece of us, like losing a loved one. They are a necessity in our lives that leaves a void.

The pandemic mandates have given a time to reflect upon what is most important to us. Not surprisingly, for most it's family. We especially miss hugging those we love who are still among us, but thanks to technology, relationships can still prevail with voice and face to face app communication.

Having said that, there might have been one other minor thing to have missed...Puzzle 17. Since comments have led me to believe word searches are the most popular, and because we all need something pleasant to focus on, the theme is Flowers/Plants.  Enjoy!

  TEMPLATE ― PUZZLE # 17 FLOWERS/PLANTS 

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PLUMERIA    ORCHID    DAHLIA    VIOLET     IRIS    FREESIA    LILAC

LILY    LAVENDER    ROSE    HONEYSUCKLE    SPIREA    DAISY    GLAD

PANSY    TULIP    DAFFODIL    PEONY    HYACINTH   IXIA    BEGONIA    ZINNIA    ASTER    POPPY    CLOVER    HOLLY