"Honesty, Sincerity, Just Like it Used to be . . ."

Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would have them do to you.

My friend, Ginger, is one devoted daughter.  When it becomes obvious that her mother's Alzheimer's condition is snowballing, Ginger chooses to live with her and be her primary caregiver.

Not an easy job.  Not by a long shot.  For as the months roll on, Ginger witnesses a plethora of erratic behaviors, one of which is her mother's obsession with hiding things.  And, because of her illness, she cannot recall where the object is.  Causing Ginger no end of frustration, especially when her mom's Visa card goes missing.

Sadly, Ginger's mother's condition deteriorates to the point where professional help is the only alternative.  Ginger and her siblings reluctantly, but realistically, decide their mom needs to be in a nursing facility where the staff knows exactly how to deal with Alzheimer patients.

It is shortly after her mom is settled at her new home when Ginger remembers the lost Visa card.  She scours the house.  Looking in this drawer and that.  Combing the cabinets and closets.  Even lifting her mother's mattress thinking she may have stashed it there.

All to no avail . . .

Fast forward one month.  Ginger is hosting a moving sale, trying to empty her mom's house of as much furniture as possible before listing it on the market.  She is inundated by crowds, all seeking a bargain.

And, in the confusion, Ginger realizes long after it and the pilferer have vanished, that a bottle of Chambord is missing from her wine table.

"I can't believe this!"  she mutters to herself.  "How could someone dare to take something without paying for it?  What's wrong with people these days?"

But, she doesn't have time to dwell on it.

A man and his 19-year-old son approach her, interested in purchasing the bedroom set for the son's new apartment.  Ginger is thrilled to say the least.

As the two work to disassemble the bed frame, she pops her head around the corner, "Do you have a television for your new place?"

"No, ma'am," says the son.

"I know it's not the latest model, but you're welcome to have the one on the dresser for $10.

"We'll take it," the father grins, and heads out the door carrying the headboard to his truck.

Ginger retreats to deal with other buyers.  She makes a few more sales and is just turning around to greet another couple when there's a voice behind her.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but is this yours?  I found it under the T.V. when I was lifting it."

She whirls around.  There, standing in front of her, is the 19-year-old.  And, in his hand is the missing Visa card.

"Oh, my!"  Ginger exclaims.  "I've been looking everywhere for that!  I'm so happy you found it.  Thank you so much!"

How easy it would have been for this young man, whose father is busy loading the truck, to have pocketed this charge card with its $7,000 credit limit.  Instead, he chooses to do the right thing.

"Martha," Ginger says, "when that boy handed me the card, it absolutely restored my faith in humanity.  His parents surely raised him well.  What a blessing it was to see a young person with such honesty."

Amen, Ginger.  Amen!
~
Have you ever been blessed by an experience like Ginger's?

Will you join me in prayer?
We pray, Father, that we always follow Jesus' commandment to do to others as we would have them do to us.  Keep our hearts clean and our intentions honest toward friend and stranger alike.  May our words and actions ever be testimonies to Your great love and mercy.  Amen.