Two Cents Worth of Common Sense
The library books were due and needed to be returned. The question I posed arose out of the depths of personal experience—for what else is there for one to go on? It made perfect sense but the look upon the little one before me was tell-tale that they didn’t have a clue what I was talking about.
“What happens if you bring your books back and they are overdue?” asked grandma. The grand before me shrugged.
“You know what happened when we didn’t return books to the lady at the library?” And the flashbacks began. As a child, for all I knew the lady at the library owned the joint and even lived in the basement. Neither was true but a timid child knows not and can conjure up much within the imagination.
To not know there was a penalty when a book was overdue was no excuse back in my day. After all, it was stated clearly on the librarian’s desk. Furthermore, each time one checked books in or out, her lead pencil kept track as to whether you returned it on time, or you had to pay your due.
That’s when I told my grand who stood before me listening to grandma’s chatter. “When we returned a book late, we had to pay two cents a day for each day it was overdue!”
“Two cents? That’s not much,” said the little, giving voice.
“No, it’s not much now, and even back then it wasn’t much. But worse than paying the money was the shame of not being responsible. Embarrassment came easy at the thought of someone thinking I was not responsible for what I’d borrowed.”
I wondered what the equivalent of two cents back then would amount to now. Perhaps about 25 cents a day on a book that was overdue would not be overdoing it. If there was such charge, it might make an impact on the borrower, equipping them for the bigger things that will get borrowed down the road. House loans will need to be paid on time. Rent may be due and when overdue, it could create not only embarrassment, but the consequences could lead to one being tossed right out onto the street.
So, what say I? I say there was a lot of common sense dished out by charging a meager two cents penalty for a book that was overdue. The thought of not teaching accountability isn’t so grand—is what I was trying to teach my grand.
These thoughts might be basic, but they all add up. Romans 13:10 says, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor.” If that which was given to us for use is not respected by disregarding that which was entrusted to us, then that is not love. And then what? I suppose then forgiveness must be asked for. It’s one big learning curve. When we get ahead of the curve, so to speak, and have an opportunity to teach, then there is wisdom in guiding little ones entrusted to us along the path of life. Penalties not imposed can cause those we love to stumble, and the consequences could be grave.
Psalm 78:5–6 mentions, “He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children; that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments…”
May we be astute in teaching that which is ours to teach the next generation. And to be honest, I’m pretty sure we can’t overdo that which helps turn hearts towards Him. Amen.
Kathleen Kjolhaug, Theology in the Trenches
Photo: Taken by Ed Robertson on Unsplash.