Making Wrongs Right

Each May I look forward to purchasing annuals to beautify the front and back of the house. But I have only recently discovered hanging baskets.

My friend Maureen and her husband, Robert, have an abundance of flowers in the summer. In 2021, they got me hooked on hanging plants after Maureen volunteered Robert to make me some for the backyard fence. I purchased the flowers, which Maureen helped me pick out, and was pleasantly surprised when Robert made me eight hanging baskets and gave me some gladiolas and a bleeding heart as well. Those who visited me marveled at what I did, but I had to give God and Robert the credit. I am a firm believer in teaching a person how to fish rather than giving them a fish. The following year I made my own hanging baskets by reusing the pots I had been gifted. This year was no different as I filled up my shopping cart with an array of assorted annuals. I was surprised when the cashier informed me that I qualified for a free item because of the amount I had spent. There were so many hanging baskets outside the storefront that I went inside to confirm the free item. I understood the free item to be the jumbo flowers labeled “2 for $55.00.” I picked up two plants but immediately wondered if I was to have taken just one plant instead of both. When I arrived home, I phoned the store.

The person on the other end of the line confirmed my suspicions: I was to have taken just one of the plants, not both. I told him I would return the following day to settle things. Then I was impressed to check my receipt.

That is when I noticed that I had been charged for nine trays of flowers instead of eight. I double-checked the receipt and recounted the flowers.

I had a good laugh when I realized that I had been overcharged the same amount as the cost of the additional flowers I had taken. The following day I went to customer service and informed the attendant that I had to make two wrongs right.

I explained the situation, and she charged me $27.50 for the second plant. Then she gave me $2.50 that the store owed me. I felt free as I left the store.

When we live our lives with integrity before the Lord, burdens truly are lifted at Calvary.

Sharon Long