Our family was Christmas shopping in the clothing department of a large department store when our nine year old son, Bradley, shouted, “Money!” Rolled up with a rubber band was a substantial amount of cash, apparently dropped unknowingly by its owner. The money had rolled under a display table, and it was by sheer luck that my son saw it at all.

He was so excited about his find that my husband and I hated to rain on his parade with a gentle reminder. “Somewhere, someone else is very sad about losing this much money,” his dad told him.

I added, “Yes, and the person who lost it may have saved for a long time and is frantically looking for it now.”

After a short discussion of who might have lost it we asked him, “How would you feel if you had lost the money?”

I think I’d be sad and maybe even sick to my stomach,” he admitted.

I asked, “Do you think you should keep the money or turn it in to the store manager?

It wasn’t an easy decision for a nine-year-old. He frowned as he reluctantly answered, “Turn it in.”

When the lady behind the desk at Lost and Found asked, “How can I help you?” I nudged Bradley forward to speak for himself.

“But, Mom, what if no one ever comes to claim it?” He asked.

I gave him a smile and stepped forward to explain about the lost money. “Do you think if the money isn’t claimed it could be given to our son, who found it?”

The desk clerk had watched Bradley struggle with changing his mind and readily agreed.

We left his name and address, and the clerk wrote a quick note. Then, using the rubber band, she attached the note to the money and placed it in a lockbox.

When we retold this incident to others, many called us naïve. “Surely the store manager or some other employee will keep that money,” people would say. In fact, the general consensus was that we were “fools” to encourage our son to turn the money in. His neighborhood friends teased Bradley, chanting, “Do-gooder! Do-gooder! You’re nuts!”

He just shrugged it off and said, “It wasn’t my money.” His dad and I were so proud of him.

Two years later a letter came in the mail addressed to Bradley. It was from the department store, which was now going out of business. The letter stated that they had found a roll of money in their vault with Bradley’s name and address on it. A notation said it should be sent to him if not claimed. Attached to the letter was a check made out to Bradley with a note from the manager:

Dear Bradley,

I do admire you so much for making such a grown-up decision at age nine.

I remember your struggle and know it wasn’t easy. It took a person of strong character to turn in that money. There are many adults who would struggle with such a decision. The money was never claimed and so I am pleased to honor your request. The money is now yours!

She made a smiley face with the words “enjoy” and “have a ball” under it.

It would be a wonderful story if it ended right here, but there’s more.

Twenty years later Bradley had a son born prematurely. Little Nathan weighed only two pounds and suffered a stroke when two days old. My son was laid off, job searching and short of money. Times were bad all around for him and his young wife. Bradley left the ICU and went to the hospital chapel and prayed for his son’s life. On his way back to ICU, he stopped at a vending machine for a cheap snack. He deposited his coins and retrieved his selection, then coins began to pour out like a slot machine paying off a jackpot! Bradley collected the coins in his shirttail and marveled at his luck. Just when he was thinking about counting his loot he remembered his childhood experience. He knew what he had to do. He had just prayed for a miracle for his son. He knew, however, this was not the miracle he needed. Perhaps it was a test from above.

“Well, God,” he prayed, “I figure I need all the points I can get right about now. My son’s life hangs in the balance and the outcome is in your hands. This isn’t my money. You’ve seen me through till now and I’m counting on You. Please, God, give me a strong, healthy son.”

Then he walked over to the nurse’s desk carrying his shirttail filled with coins and emptied them onto the counter. “Can you return this to the vendor, Ma’am?” He asked.

The wide-eyed nurse was astounded. “Are you sure you don’t want to just keep this? Most people would.”

Bradley just grinned. “I don’t know how much money is here…but I’m certain that my reward will be much greater by far.”

He was correct. That was six years ago. Little Nathan is now healthy and happily in kindergarten and the joy of our lives…God’s ultimate payoff!

Chris Smith iluvmyfamilyxxx000@yahoo.com