This was an interesting story in the news. Did you hear about it? A man found a check at a train station addressed to HARIBO for 4.8 million in Germany. He called to tell them. They told him it was a cross check, tear it up. Then as a “thank you,” sent him six bags of gummi candies.
Now, people are rushing to judge the reward. Technically, it wasn’t a reward, because to Haribo, check could not be cashed; however, as an “Appreciate the call, they sent some gummi candies.”
This made me think. WHAT should a reward be for doing a good deed? Should anything be expected?
Since there was no reward, will this discourage people from doing the “right thing” in the future? Being kind, trying to return something takes effort.
My daughter has found things, returned them. No reward, a big “thank you!” One was a driver’s license, the address on it, wasn’t far away, so drove it to the person’s home. The lady said, “Thank you.” A year later, she still had my daughter’s email. She wrote to her, saying, “It’s the holidays, thinking of you, wanted to thank you again for returning my driver’s license.” No reward or gift, a thank you.
Curious, what do other people think? If someone found something of YOURS, returned it, would you give them something OR just express great gratitude?
Brilliant Viewpoint 
all I need is to know I did the right thing, regardless of the response. Although, I am wondering how a 4.8 million check just got left at a train station. Most big companies around the world would wire that kind of money, not use physical checks.
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Agree, it’s all strange! And who had the check?
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Expecting a reward means you’re doing it for the reward not because it was the right thing to do. I do it because it’s the right thing to do.
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Yes, I think so too. That’s why I thought it was interesting that many media outlets start with it was wrong to only get 6 bags of gummi’s. WHO are they to decide? They constantly flame the fires for doing bad deeds versus good deeds.
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I always have the feeling the media is picking a fight by pitting others against each other. But then their motto is “If it bleeds it leads.”
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Agree, they want us to fight against each other. How horrible. Would be interesting if we got rid of all of them, news became nice to see what would happen. Maybe that wouldn’t be entirely good either. BUT certainly there is NEVER anything good lately. Not in the main headlines anyhow. Have a blessed day.
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And you.
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To me, doing the right thing is enough. Years ago I found a wallet in the train. It was FRiday night. When I wanted to give it to the conductor he said that it would sit on the lost and found until Monday. I took it with me instead and called numbers that I found in it. I tracked the lady’s husband down. She met me the following day to retrieve the wallet. I was shocked that she came with flowers and cookies. I wasn’t expecting anything.
Blessings to you!
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Wonderful, I wouldn’t have trusted the wallet in the lost and found either. Better to get it to the person directly. Pats on the back to you!! You were a People Angel. Someone told me that once, that People Angels come in our lives. I thought that was a nice way of referring to a kind act.
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Oh People Angels- I love that!! Thank you!
I hope we keep encountering them in our lives and that we use every chance we get to be that for others!!
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I saw a ‘Lost Bracelet’ sign on a lampost near the beach, went for my 45 minute walk along the sand, turned back, looked down, and there was the bracelet! When I rang the owner, she was super grateful, but gave me nothing except gratitude. And that was more than enough. Perhaps wanting a physical reward reflects how indoctrinated we are by Capitalism: the value of an object rather than a heartfelt thank you exchange with a fellow human being?
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WOW – that you found the bracelet! Yes, on the one hand, a thank you is all we’ve been thinking of when we return something. However, when someone gives chocolates or biscuits, it’s nice gesture in return. A thank you for the person who spent their time to return their lost item. Certainly something to think about, right.
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The purest approach is anonymous. I lost my wallet after a Colorado Rockies game once and promptly canceled my credit cards. Three days later my wallet showed up in the mail, intact, with no return address or expectations. Good people are out there!
Also, the candy reminded me of a time when I realized my team at work enjoyed so much candy from a particular brand, we decided to write a group letter to the company expressing our gratitude for their products (and with no expectations in return). Two weeks later, we received a thank-you letter and a generous box of samples. That was a nice surprise.
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Great story!!
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I don’t think you should expect to give or get a reward for doing the right thing. But I think most of the backlash against the multi-million dollar company was for being “cheap” with the reward, but then maybe they considered it free publicity to send their own product and hoped it would make the media? I do like the idea of People Angels.
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It’s not a good deed if you expect something in return…
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True!
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