DOING THE RIGHT THING
 

One day, some years back, a teacher took his class of teenagers to an amusement park as an end-of-the-year party.

They all went to the arcade room, and he watched one of his students standing in line to buy tokens. The man in front of the student took out his wallet to get some money to buy the tokens, and he accidentally dropped a dollar bill. 

As he watched, another teen walked quickly by, kicked the bill to the side, picked it up, and walked away with the man's money.

The teacher was ready to approach the teen who took the money. But, before he could, he saw his student, who was standing behind the man, quickly take a dollar bill from his pocket and drop it on the floor.

The student then taps the man on his shoulder and says, "Excuse me, sir, you dropped this," and he hands his dollar to the man.

The man thanked him and moved on.

The teacher saw the episode, and he was confused.

"David, I saw the whole thing. Tell me, how did you think to do such a kind and considerate gesture?" Asked the teacher of his student when he returned from the line.

"I'll tell you why. When I was very young, my grandfather had a small grocery store. When school was over, I would take the bus to my grandfather's store and hang out there until my mother picked me up after work.

My grandfather would give me a snack, and I would do my homework there.

One day, a customer walked into the store, and she dropped a dollar on the floor without noticing.

I walked over and pulled the same move the other kid just did. I also walked over to the dollar, kicked it with my foot, and pocketed her dollar bill.

Then, my grandfather leaned over the counter and dropped a dollar bill on the floor. He told the customer that she had dropped some money. The customer thanked him as I watched, feeling the shame wash over me.

When the customer left the store, with the saddest eyes, he said, 'David, I expected more of you.'

My grandfather passed away a few months ago. I can only pray that he is looking down at me from heaven right now with pride, knowing I learned my lesson."

God gave children a good nature that instinctively wants to please their elders and do what's right. It's up to us to set good examples and to be wise teachers.