Tonight, 6/7/13 I got conned for about $260 in groceries and gas by a Romanian family. It was a mother and a father who used their children as props, an adorable little girl about 5, and two boys about 8 and 10, as the parents pleaded they were unable to feed their children, nor even had the gas to drive home.
I bought them gas and took them to a supermarket to buy groceries, for they were quite adept at their con. But late in the process, I began to realize all of this was a carefully constructed roose to get me to pay for their food and gas.
As I began to ask questions, I sensed the roose, but let them go. Why?
While no one likes to be conned, the fact was I would have helped them or anyone else in need and it wasn't necessary to practice deception. If they would stoop this low as to use their children as props to get free gas and groceries, they apparently needed that money more than I.
And I asked myself what kind of example does this set for their children? Seemingly that grifting is a good thing, in taking advantage of the kindness of others. Thankfully, this isn't how Anne and I raised our children, and I hope their children will rise above the lessons their parents are teaching them.
To soothe my feelings I thought of Jesus' words in The Sermon on The Mount and thought as well of the many times Gandhi had been treated badly or taken advantage of and how he quickly forgave. Considering the actions of that elite company I indeed felt better and I followed their example with forgiveness and in moving on with my life.
Dick
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