Day: March 10, 2009

Hey!!!

As some of you know I will be starting back up my young gurls group in my home next month called * Raisingurls To Women*. My home will be a place for young gurls to come and talk about the things, and issues that goes on in their lives. We as a group will be able to discuss, and brain storm those issues and come up with solutions.

One of our many topics will be *Integrity*.

Last Saturday March 7, I worked the shift 11:30-3:30. I was ringing up my last customers when the customer before them, came walking back to me real fast. I looked at him before he even got to my register and said * What\’s wrong Sir*? He said I left my wallet. So , I looked in the area where people place their checkbooks and said, * Oh here it is*. He looked at my name badge and said * Lacrease, you have no idea what this means to me*! He said Thank you, Thank you so much, I I said Oh, you\’re welcome, its nothing, its okay. He said No, you don\’t understand, * he got closer to me* he said there is $1000.00 in this wallet. He said, I have to give you something for it. I said NO, NO, NO, its okay, we can\’t accept any gifts * Walmart policy* especially money. He said, I have TOO! He reached in his wallet and handed me $ 10.00. I kept saying, No, No, its okay. I didn\’t want to take it, but he insisted.

At some point, I could see it in his eyes that he wanted to reward me in his own kinda way. Because he was very, very, grateful. Sometimes when people offer you something, you take it out of courtesy for that person. Some how they * need* for you to take their gift as a token of their appreciation. It made him feel as if he did the right thing. And I understand that. I truly do. Been there.

But here\’s where my issue come in.

I balled up the $10.00 bill and kept it in my hand. As I was ringing up the last customer for the day, I was deciding in my mind, if I was going to keep the money or turn it in.

Today………. it was something different about turning in that money. I didn\’t need it, as a matter of fact before I left home I placed $380.00 in my secret place, I had money on my credit card, and I had a $123.00 money order that I was going to cash back in to Walmart, because I didn\’t need it anymore. So, you see the money wasn\’t my issue. My issue was clearly that this man wanted ME to have what he gave to ME. He was happy and grateful that his wallet was returned to him as is, and to know that I took the money made his day. I had a problem with turning the money in to management, and giving up what was clearly giving to me by the kindness of one mans heart.

I had to think about this one. So, I walked to my locker and then punched out!!!! I still had the money tightly held in my hand. I reached in my pocket and switched the $10.00 bill to a dollar. As soon as I did it. I didn\’t feel right. I felt like okay Walmart didn\’t see that, but God did. I felt like throw-up. Ughhhhh I hated that feeling, it was a mess. I hated, hated, hated hated it!!! As I was walking to the podium, God said Lacrease, you know that\’s wrong. I saw what you did. You know I always take care of you, you don\’t need the money, its okay if you have to follow the guidelines of your job, and its okay that the man gave it to YOU, but what you are doing is not right. You should go into your pocket and switch that money back. He was really in my head.

No one was at the podium to give it to, so as I was getting a piece of paper to write down my name ,and where the money came from, I had already pulled out the $10.00 to give it to my manager who was then walking up.

She looked at me and said * Lacrease, what\’s wrong*? I said WHOOOOOOOOOO LET ME BREATHE, LET ME THINK FOR A SECOND. She was like what? I told her the story and she said, you know better, you know God. She said that $10.00 is not going to break you. I said I know, I know, I know that part. But that\’s not my issue. She said what is it? I said the principal of the fact is that this man gave this to ME. He wanted ME to have it, not Walmart! She said its okay, you did the right thing. And I\’m glad I did. I can type this message, and KNOW that I did the right thing. God knows it, and I know if for myself. If this situation was to ever come back up, it wont be a thought to me again, because I already know what God expects from me. This wont be a personal battle for me. I already know and understand the rules. This was only a test.

So now, my question will be to my gurls………… what would you do? And why?

I can\’t wait to impose this question. It\’s going to be our first * Group Discussion* question. We will have one every meeting on a different topic. I really want to see where their heads are on this. First I will explain to them the story, and then the rules. And afterwards I would ask them what would they do if this were their situation? Can\’t wait for this one.

Aiight, got more lessons to complete for the whole month of April 2009!

Be Blessed

Lacrease