It’s confession time!
This one time I shoplifted a keyring from the souvenir shop at the Polynesian Spa in Rotorua.
(I couldn’t find a photo of the NZ version, but the American equivalent is shown on the right)
I was about 10 years old at the time.
While I was waiting for the rest of the family to finish getting changed, I was staring at this particular keyring which had all the NZ bank notes as miniture plastic versions.
I think the price was about $4, which was way out of my league (my weekly pocket money was about $2). So after 10 minutes of sweating and stressing and checking to see if I was being watched, I put it in my pocket and took off.
I kept it hidden in a drawer beside my bed. I couldn’t show anyone, because they might ask where I got it and I think I would crack under the pressure and confess.
I was racked with guilt for weeks. Until, finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I buried it deep in the rubbish bin, and tried to forget about it.
But I couldn’t forget.
10 years later, I still felt guilty.
I was about 20 years old when I went back to the Polynesian Spa. I went straight up to the souvenir counter and said “Hello. Ten years ago I stole a keyring from here. Please accept my apology and my payment of $10.” I handed over a $10 note and walked away.
The person at the counter just said “oh… thank you!”
Finally, I was free.
Are you carrying around any guilt?
Don’t let it eat at you for 10 years.
Make it right. Pay for it and ask for forgiveness. Be free.