In the news recently was a homeless man who had spotted a wallet with quite a bit of money. He found it directly across from a hotel and returned it there. The wallet belonged to a guest; both the guest and the hotel were extremely grateful. They rewarded the honest man with a stay in the hotel plus a cash reward. Obviously, the gentleman could have easily helped himself to the cash but he didn't. He chose to do the right thing.
When visiting Detroit several years ago one December with daughter #8, Jeannie, and her husband, Fielding, we were stopped downtown all of a sudden, in traffic. An army of police cars went flashing by us with sirens blasting, and stopped several blocks ahead. Several helicopters circled overhead. We sat for about 45 minutes and wondered what was going on until traffic cleared. Then we went on to our destination, an island in the river flowing through Detroit. The park was quite interesting and we enjoyed watching the ice floes float down the partially frozen river.
Later that night, we listened to the local news and discovered what had happened. The Mayor of Detroit was arrested for taking secret trips with his mistress to South America with city money! It was painful to watch his wife's reaction to the affair. No one has to cheat on his or her spouse! He chose to do it! No one has to steal from their job. He chose to do it!
Do you know anyone who 'fudges' on their income tax? It is STEALING, plain and simple! Why muddy your conscience for a few dollars? Why muddy your conscience for a few thrills in cheating?
A clear conscience is a treasure you create for yourself by doing the right thing. Everyone is tempted, make no mistake about it! WE CHOOSE to do the right thing or the wrong thing. If you have a clear conscience, you consistently choose to do right and avoid evil; you have INTEGRITY. This is one of the primary qualities to both create in ourselves and look for in a spouse.
A clear conscience makes it a whole lot easier to fall asleep at night! Let's all pray for graces from God to help us always and in every circumstance, do the right thing!
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