Restitution and Wisdom

Fools mock at making restitution, but there is goodwill among the upright. Proverbs 14:9

 

The thought of even giving back that which is borrowed would rankle the foolish, let alone replacing that which has been stolen or destroyed.

 

In 2012 I was boarding with a couple whilst awaiting for my accommodation to be available. One day the woman came to me and told me I had ruined her wok by using olive oil instead of another oil. I had not seen a difference in her wok, it seemed not to have changed to me, but then I was not the owner.

 

I had noticed how this woman watched me constantly whilst in her kitchen and knew she had precious attitudes to her possessions. At the time I could ill afford to buy her a new pan but I immediately offered and went on-line and found her make of wok and bought a new one. I was fortunate to find a bargain. Her pan was normally around $150.00, I bought it for around $60.

 

Replacing the wok gave the woman satisfaction and me peace, it also gave me something money can't buy, reputation. I did not want to be known as a destroyer or worst a mocker.

 

I have tried to always have the policy of replacing what I destroy or lose. It has served me well.

 

This policy came out of a 6 month period when I was in England and my then husband and I borrowed a travelling book belonging to another couple. Unfortunately the book became damp and was made less than when we first borrowed it. We did not replace it and I remember the faces of the people who loaned us the book, they were devastated.