Character: making the decision to do what is right, even if there is no chance of being caught.

Recently Chellee and the girls were shopping at Wal-Mart. As they loaded the car, Miranda noticed a small roll of money laying on the ground next to the car.  Without hesitation, Miranda insisted on turning it in.  It was just a five and three one’s but the clerk at the desk seemed surprised, saying, “Thank you for being so honest.”

As Chellee told me the story, I thought back about the time Chellee found twenty dollars at Target and turned it in. Target has a policy that if it is not claimed in two weeks they will give it to you………and they did.

The next time I consider returning a VCR to Wal-Mart after two years of use and operator error damages, I with think about Miranda and her example of character.

Chellee told Miranda that she could have put the money in her pocket and no one would have ever known.  Miranda said, “but I would have known.”

I told my Dad this story and he wrote back this note:

Thanks! Isn’t it great to witness your children maturing and evidencing signs of displaying the traits you so earnestly wish for their character. These little “evidences” don’t come about by accident…they come from parents who model such character traits in front of their children.

- Randy Hill, Texas Entrepreneur