[September 30, 2023] I was only six years old, living in a poor area of Louisiana where money was scarce, and you were rich if you had a spare dollar. Walking along with my best friend Wilson, we came upon a $5 Dollar bill lying in the street. “Lookie thar, Douglas, thar’s a Lincoln just sittin’ without nobody the wiser.”
Two Louisiana boys scrambling for $5 must have been a real sight to behold. That was enough money to buy anything, in our minds, maybe a house. Alas, that was not to be. Our local Sheriff was nearby and must have heard our squeals of glee. “Where’d you get that paper money?” Perhaps he thought we stole it.
At first, Wilson hesitated to admit we’d found the money, but where we came from, lying was a sin, and if people knew you had lied at any time, you’d be called out to your face. Liar, Liar, Liar. This was a great shame, and it was right to be called out on a sin. Like a bad poker hand, we folded and admitted we had found it.
The Sheriff asked us what we were going to do with that found money, which would bring us great joy and happiness. We knew the correct answer, but that meant taking responsibility, which was hard and time-consuming. “We’re giving it back,” I said, immediately realizing our problem – find the owner and return his money. The easier option would have been to donate the money at church.
We went door to door in town, asking who might have lost money. After three days, no luck. We told the Sheriff. “Keep looking,” he said and exactly what we thought he would say. The lesson was painfully clear: someone else’s property is not mine, no matter how small. It’s their property, and their losing it changed nothing.
Wilson and I would be tempted again soon, but we knew what to do. The next time we found money, we would see the Sheriff to give it to him. He could look for the careless owner. And we would be free again with nothing hanging onto our conscience.
Sometimes, you learn from your experience, and other times not. This was a lesson we would never forget.
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he he he…. found this article funny. Mostly it reminds me of when I was a kid and found an “abandoned” bicycle. Well, long story short, it wasn’t abandoned. Thanks to my friend’s mom, she told me to ask around and see if anyone had lost a bike. Yep, a few doors down a kid of about 14 had it stolen a few days before. He was really appreciative of my returning his bike. I did the right thing. My conscious is clear and I’m happy that mom got me to do the right thing.
Good story, Under the bridge, and yes you did the right thing. That was the beginning of being a strong, capable man and not a weak man who steals, lies, and hurts others.
LOL, these stories of when you were a kid brings back memories long ago … and deserves re-reading again and again. Thank you Gen. Satterfield for lighting up those memories that were so deep.
Ha Ha, enjoyed this short article, Gen. Satterfield, made me smile.
A great lesson, “The Sheriff asked us what we were going to do with that found money, which would bring us great joy and happiness. We knew the correct answer, but that meant taking responsibility, which was hard and time-consuming. “We’re giving it back,” I said, immediately realizing our problem – find the owner and return his money. The easier option would have been to donate the money at church.”
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Love this website. Read Gen. Satterfield’s books. Links to his Amazon is above.
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Very entertaining, Gen. Satterfield. Thank you. This article fits very well into your “Letters to My Granddaughter” series.
Thanks Gen. Satterfield. Lessons as a child like don’t steel is crucial for their development. Unfortunately, like in some American subcultures, stealing is like reparations and accepted. That means we have generations of kids that will grow up to be in prison, killed, or living a life of horror in some other way. Many politicians, in particular black leaders encourage it anyway. Too bad that black culture is on a path of destruction. Do I have a positive outlook on those who live that way, yes, but better times can be achieved thru strong men and right now they are no where to be found in black culture.
JT, unfortunately you are right and also courageous to say so. Too many people just turn their heads and that way they avoid conflict. Saying the truth today is labelled as racist. but it is still the truth.
Learning as a kid is good. Better then than as an adult.
Embarrassed as a kid, destroyed as an adult. Learn all you can when you can, meaning as early as possible. Or simply adopt the attitude of humility (knowing that you don’t know).
EXACTLY CORRECT…………………
Yep, that was always my personal philosophy and while there was pain in the short term, I was way ahead of my peers who thought they were smart and didn’t need to do anything requiring more learning. Today, we teach kids that they are great just the way they are or the way they imagine themselves to be and then they can be it, poof. But sadly for them, that is a great lie perpetuated by our public schools.
Well said, Mr. TJ Asper. Our public education system has let us down.
And there will be no changes until parents step up. The teachers’ unions have shown they are incapable of taking a proper course correction. 👍