What’s the perfect birthday present for you? I daresay you immediately thought of something. But what about one for somebody else? A few years ago, my friend and I went in together on the perfect gift for our coworker. It seemed like a simple enough thing to do, but it didn’t quite work out that way.

Our coworker had very different tastes than my friend and I did. By the way, there’s nothing wrong with being that way. If you know me, then you know I like to pride myself on not being like everyone else. Personally, I think the most important aspect is that each person is being considerate of the other. That being said, we knew we had our work cut out for us in picking out a gift that our coworker would enjoy.

One morning, our coworker came in with a little pie they had purchased at a local fast-food restaurant. They talked about how good it was and they would be buying more of that pie. My friend and I looked at each in an “AHA!” moment. We knew we had just found our answer for the present. So, while our coworker was out for lunch, we devised our little plan. On my way home from work that day, I was going to stop by the fast-food restaurant and buy a gift card for our coworker. That way, they could buy more of the scrumptious pies.

After work, my friend gave me her part of the money and I headed out to complete my pie mission. When I pulled into the parking lot, it was almost full. So, I thought I would try my luck at the drive thru since it didn’t seem as busy. I asked the lady on the intercom if I could buy a gift card and she said I could. When I drove around, there was a car already sitting at the window. They had it pull forward and up to the corner. I assumed they had a specialty order and that I would immediately get my card. Well, that didn’t happen. Instead, they told me to park over in the space across from the drive thru window. I sat there about five minutes when I noticed a young restuarant worker come out the door with two drinks and a paper in his hands. I figured the paper was my gift card and the drinks were the cars specialty order. He went immediately to the parked car and to my disappointment, he handed them the paper. Yep, he had handed them my gift card. I watched them hesitate for a few seconds and then grab the card and quickly pull away. Next the worker walked up to my window and said: “Here are your drinks.” I answered: “I didn’t order drinks. I had a gift card.” I watched the realization that he had confused the orders cross over his face. He asked: “Are you sure?” I shook my head and answered: “Oh yeah.” Bless his heart, he dropped his head and trudged back inside.

So, I knew it was going take a few minutes longer to get my gift card. I waited and I waited. Then I waited some more. Soon I began to wonder if maybe the worker hadn’t told what he had done. “This is ridiculous!” I jumped out of my car and went inside, where it was still very busy. The manager was in the process of making me another gift card. I could tell he was as frustrated as I felt. The next morning, I took the gift card in to work and related my harrowing ordeal to my friend. That’s when I had the realization the car that took off with the first gift card didn’t come out ahead. You see, those specialty drinks were probably two to even three more times more expensive than a pie. So, the drinks they left behind were worth more than the gift card they stole.

“For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.” Luke 8:17 (KJV)

If the other car had checked the receipt, then they would have gladly taken their drinks. Instead, they took a chance on getting more and sped away. They left so quickly because they knew what they did was wrong and they thought they would get away with it. Well, they may have here, but nothing escapes God. I think that happens all the time. When we commit a sin and nobody notices it, we think it will never be known. But there is nothing hidden from the Lord. It’s a good thing to keep in mind.

My friend asked why I didn’t just take the drinks since they were already paid for and then just bought another gift card. I answered: “None of them had any chocolate in it.”

Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.