Sunday, September 23, 2007

"OH NO! NOT AGAIN!!!"

That's a quote from Son #1 tonight. I teach his 7th grade CCD class (religion class). After class ended, we were waiting outside in the square (1) to make sure all of my students had been picked up by their parents, and (2) for Son #2 and my nephew to meet us so we could ride home together.

Son #1 was perched on the railings to the steps when he happened to glance down on the ground and find -- a ten dollar bill. Actually, it's *another* $10 bill if you've been following my previous two posts. His first words were, "What should I do, Mom? Turn it in to the office? Donate it?"

Since the likelihood of finding its owner is very slim, I told him I'd email the CCD coordinator letting her know we found some cash in case anyone mentioned to her that they've lost it. If we don't hear anything within a few weeks, then we'll have a decision to make. Do we consider it his lucky day? If he spends it at the upcoming church fair, will that count as a donation? Do we donate it to our church's "poor box" (benefitting the St. Vincent de Paul Society)? If so, how much? Is this karma's way of rewarding him for being so honest and generous earlier this week?

Or is it a test of some sort? Ironically, today's gospel reading and homily were about the parable of the steward who cheated his employer of money.

Luke 16:10-13

Jesus said to his disciples: “The person who is trustworthy in very small mattersis also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another,who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.”

A man who is trustworthy in the little things will be trustworthy in the big things.

Hmmmmm.....

But, really, what are the odds? Finding not one, but two $10 bills in a single week?

Incidentally, I think he's leaning towards donating all of it to charity. But he did muse, "I wonder if Mr. R (his teacher) ever got his $10 back from A. (the kid who initially claimed the first $10 as his own)?"

5 comments:

Sue said...

Wow - that is amazing! Perhaps it is a reward for his honesty earlier in the week.

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

That kid is a sweetie. Let him pick a charity that he feels excited about. Or even let him go shopping for supplies for someone that might need them, like the CCD class or the church nursery, you know? It's more fun to see how far you can stretch that $10 and donate THINGS than just cash.

What a kid.

Nadine said...

That's amazing. The poor little guy. It's too much for him.

Elle*Bee said...

We wondered about that, sue. Is it a reward or a test? hmmmm. ;-)

tracey, we're leaning toward the charity idea. Perhaps a local one we can research and hand-deliver his donation so he can hear first-hand how it will be used.

Actually, nadine, he's keeping his sense of humor about it. It's tough trying to teach kids that money doesn't grow on trees, when lately, it seems it does. ;-)

KAYLEE said...

HAHHAHA THATS WEIRD!!!!!!