Hesitations

Last night our family went to Boulevard Hausseman in Paris to have a walk and see the windows of Galeries Lafayette. And to have some quality as well. 

Every Christmas season,  they (the management of this boutique) displays moving decors that both kids and adults adore. Absolutely one list to see if you're in Paris on a Christmas season.  

After those "windows - looking," we head out to HD (Happy days) diner at Boulevard des Italiens in Opera. As a sort of pre-ender celebration as a family. For we will not be celebrating the New Years's Eve with my husband because he'll be working a night shift just like the last year's New Year's Eve and the year before that and the year before, before that as well.

We love this place. The motto is going back to the fifties. Both my husband and I were old school, although we were not born in the Fifties. We love the ambiance anyway (for a fast food). We ate, we talked, we laugh, laugh some more and ate again. To make the story short, we were full after eating.

So it's time to pay. We were served by "Fernando, from Dominican Republic." (We just have to ask because he has this accent that intrigued all of us.) He gave us the bill in a small sized HD envelope. My husband took it, and then place a 100€ bill inside that enveloped and returned it to Fernando. Fernando gave him our change, my husband gave him some tips and then we said our thank you's and goodbye's (as per polite response in any restaurant here in France). 

I placed the envelope with the receipt in my bag and we left. On our way, I realized that the price of that restaurant went up. So I tried to see the receipt by opening the envelope. Behold, the 100€ is still inside.

I hesitated! I hesitated to tell my husband about it! I hesitated to give back the money, thinking that if I keep it I'll have 100€ more in my pocket.

I walked few steps more before I had the courage to tell my husband that the money that we gave Fernando is still in the envelop together with the receipt. I thought I will just go with the flow. Whatever my husband decide, I will follow.

Luckily my husband is a good man. He took the envelop, practically run back to the HD diner and asked for Fernando. He didn't hesitate! Not for a little bit.

I saw the face of Fernando. Of how grateful he is that my husband return the money. It was 100€ bill after all. More than a day salary of an employee in a restaurant.

After that I felt ashamed of myself.

I am not a Saint. I'm only human. One or few people might have experienced the same dilemma that I had.

But I acknowledge that the tempestuous thoughts that I had is not right. To keep the money and leave the person with a problem of his own. My husband is right. He thought of Fernando lacking money is his cash register. And thought that if he was that person, either he's at risk of losing his job, losing the trust of his employer or worst he'll be the one paying for the food that we ate. He's always saying put yourself in the shoe of the person.

In France, we've learned that it's hard to earn money. So what rights do we have to take the money of others? We don't really live a life of Sainthood but at least we live a life of righteousness.Choosing the right thing is always hard, but we choose it anyway. That is what I've learned from this story.

I'm sorry that I hesitated! Lesson learned and will keep so that I can live a life that I can always be proud of! Thanks to my husband and kids.