It’s confession time!

This one time I shoplifted a keyring from the souvenir shop at the Polynesian Spa in Rotorua.

(I couldn’t find a photo of the NZ version, but the American equivalent is shown on the right)

I was about 10 years old at the time.

While I was waiting for the rest of the family to finish getting changed, I was staring at this particular keyring which had all the NZ bank notes as miniture plastic versions.

I think the price was about $4, which was way out of my league (my weekly pocket money was about $2).  So after 10 minutes of sweating and stressing and checking to see if I was being watched, I put it in my pocket and took off.

I kept it hidden in a drawer beside my bed.  I couldn’t show anyone, because they might ask where I got it and I think I would crack under the pressure and confess.

I was racked with guilt for weeks.  Until, finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I buried it deep in the rubbish bin, and tried to forget about it.

But I couldn’t forget.

10 years later, I still felt guilty.

I was about 20 years old when I went back to the Polynesian Spa.  I went straight up to the souvenir counter and said “Hello. Ten years ago I stole a keyring from here.  Please accept my apology and my payment of $10.”  I handed over a $10 note and walked away.

The person at the counter just said “oh… thank you!”

Finally, I was free.

Are you carrying around any guilt?

Don’t let it eat at you for 10 years.

Make it right.  Pay for it and ask for forgiveness.  Be free.

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