Faith Renewed

I was so impressed yesterday when I went into the local "quick stop/stop and shop". I had 2 ten-dollar bills, a five, and a one when I entered; however, when I went to the counter to pay, I was short $10. I looked around on the floor and saw nothing. I had just decided to retrace my steps around the store when a young man came up to me and said, "Is this yours, Ma'am?" I was so shocked that I didn't know what to say, except "yes" and "thank you." He left the store and I didn't even get a good look at his face but I remember the kindness in his voice should I ever hear it again. I regret that I didn't do more, but what should I have done? Should I have given him my $5 or all of the 10? (He may have needed it more than I). I feel like my thanks was not enough. He gave me more than my $10 back. He gave me my somewhat lost faith in young people's integrity. I wrote briefly about integrity last weekend, how I am distraught when someone questions my integrity; yet, that is what I have been guilty of sometime. Now, I must once again, approach the subject from a different perspective than I did in my private, personal blog last week. I learned a valuable lesson. I now believe that everyone, even the very worst, have some integrity, often when they don't show it to others. I know that I have to trust that everyone will do the right and honest thing and, until they prove otherwise, I must have faith. I never expected to see the $10 again because there were 6 or 8 young people milling around in the store at that time. So, I learned that my expectations are just that...mine. In a way, I think I didn't deserve to see the money again. I had been careless with it, stuffing inside my jeans pocket, so losing it was entirely my fault. Sometimes, it becomes our fault when our integrity is questioned, too. Perhaps, I have placed myself in situations where I may look guilty; this can easily happen when we "hang out" with someone who has a reputation of dishonesty. I really try to befriend everyone; yet, sometimes, that trait may be misunderstood in and through the eyes of others. My faith in others has been renewed! How great it feels to witness something good! I now realize that I, too, must believe the best in others just as I want others to see and believe the best in me and my integrity.