Recently, I went to a store to buy batteries.  When the checker rang me up she said something like, “six dollars please.” 

Immediately I said, “That can’t be right.”  I had bought two packages of batteries, and the larger one alone cost more than ten dollars.

The tired looking checker shrugged.  “It says six dollars.” 

I’m sure she had endured a long day on her feet and just wanted to move on to the next person in line, but I couldn’t let this go.  “I’m sorry, but I’m sure that’s not right.”

She rolled her eyes and hit a button on the computer screen behind her.  When the checkout history popped up, sure enough, the larger package of batteries somehow hadn’t been scanned. 

Rather than be pleased with my honesty, when the checker held out her hand for the corrected amount of over twenty dollars she said, “I guess you must have money to burn.”

If only.  The six-dollar payment would have been so much better on my pocketbook, but stealing would’ve caused far worse damaged to my integrity.

When the checker handed me back my change, I noticed a teenage girl who stood next in line, watching me.  The woman behind the counter may not have cared, but maybe my actions had affected this young girl for the better.  I smiled and said, “It wouldn’t have been worth the blessings I would have lost.”

The girl simply nodded, but I walked away feeling like I was floating, grateful for the opportunity to be an example for good.  You just never know who’s watching.