Returning stolen goods

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MAV0524

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In the last few years, I made an effort to amend for stolen goods. In high school, I worked at a restaurant and would often eat food from the restaurant without paying for it. Thus, one day I decided to try to pay the restaurant back some how. I mailed about $200 or so in cash to the restaurant’s address listed in the internet. A couple years late I got the feeling I should send some more, so I mailed another $250 or so. Both times I included a note that they would accept the money for past debt/stolen goods.

The thing is I mailed it without a return address so they wouldn’t know who I was. It was convenient to mail it, because the restaurant was like a 9 hour drive away. Thus, I can’t really be certain it arrived to the manager so planned. Something has been nagging me that since I can’t be certain that the money made it to its destination I really haven’t amended for the sins. It could have gotten lost in the mail or stolen by employees who opened the mail.

Am I being scrupulous here? I’ve never really had problems with the post office before, but this has been bothering me.
 
I don’t know about the trustworthiness of the people your envelope had to go through to get to it’s destination, but I think it’s good (and scrupulous) that you have made the effort to amend for what you did. I wouldn’t know how you’d go about finding out if your money made it to where you wanted it to go. But, if the stealing food is bothering you… have you confessed about it? And if you have done that, what about helping out somewhere where they serve food to the homeless? This way you’re giving food to those who need it! While this is obviously not giving money back to the establishment you stole it from, it is a way to “give back” food and help.
 
crayons said:
I don’t know about the trustworthiness of the people your envelope had to go through to get to it’s destination, but I think it’s good (and scrupulous) that you have made the effort to amend for what you did. I wouldn’t know how you’d go about finding out if your money made it to where you wanted it to go. But, if the stealing food is bothering you… have you confessed about it? And if you have done that, what about helping out somewhere where they serve food to the homeless? This way you’re giving food to those who need it! While this is obviously not giving money back to the establishment you stole it from, it is a way to “give back” food and help.
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Yeah, I confessed it some time ago. For the record, the thefts were like 6-7 years before I sent the money in.
 
Yes you are being scrupulous.You are feeling too guilty about it.You did your best to return the money and 9chances out of 10 it arrived and was taken care of.By the way(you don;t need to answer)but how could you owe $450?Did you work there all 4 yrs.of high school?
 
MAV0524 said:
Yeah, I confessed it some time ago. For the record, the thefts were like 6-7 years before I sent the money in.
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I think you have been very scrupulous in the way you’ve conducted yourself. Maybe you’re being too hard on yourself (it’s been several years, you’ve confessed, and you’ve sent in money more than once, and you’re obviously very repentant). If it is still troubling you, you could perhaps talk to a priest about it?
 
valentino said:
Yes you are being scrupulous.You are feeling too guilty about it.You did your best to return the money and 9chances out of 10 it arrived and was taken care of.By the way(you don;t need to answer)but how could you owe $450?Did you work there all 4 yrs.of high school?
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I just guess at that amount plus like 6 years fair interest. It was a regular habit of “accidently” breaking cookies, so I could eat them (theft in reality), among other things. I didn’t mind paying more than strictly required to as a form of penance. At the time, it was a way for me to unattach myself from money as I felt I was too attached to money. I’ll probably bring it up confession next time.
 
I just want to clarify a few things, since some posters haven’t been explicit on what actions of the OP they have been calling scrupulous. It would be a great mistake to call making restitution a scrupulous behavior. To the contrary, it is an absolutely necessary part of repentance and reconciliation. It is required by justice. A biblical example of this is Zacchaeus whom Jesus blesses for restoring fourfold whatever he had defrauded others.

One should absolutely do this penance, however, you should not scruple after the fact, you have made satisfaction. Take comfort in the fact that your conscience was well informed to do that, but feelings of guilt after the fact should be quelled as they don’t stem from right judgement.
 
MAV0524 said:
In the last few years, I made an effort to amend for stolen goods. In high school, I worked at a restaurant and would often eat food from the restaurant without paying for it. Thus, one day I decided to try to pay the restaurant back some how. I mailed about $200 or so in cash to the restaurant’s address listed in the internet. A couple years late I got the feeling I should send some more, so I mailed another $250 or so. Both times I included a note that they would accept the money for past debt/stolen goods.

The thing is I mailed it without a return address so they wouldn’t know who I was. It was convenient to mail it, because the restaurant was like a 9 hour drive away. Thus, I can’t really be certain it arrived to the manager so planned. Something has been nagging me that since I can’t be certain that the money made it to its destination I really haven’t amended for the sins. It could have gotten lost in the mail or stolen by employees who opened the mail.

Am I being scrupulous here? I’ve never really had problems with the post office before, but this has been bothering me.
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Yes, I think you are being overly scrupulous. The devil plays this trick all the time. You sent the money. If the money did not arrive at the restaurant, then it was God’s will that it didn’t. You did your part. Be at peace.
 
smichhertz said:
You sent the money. If the money did not arrive at the restaurant, then it was God’s will that it didn’t. You did your part. Be at peace.
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I agree, be at peace. When this bothers you, repeat “Jesus, I trust in You!” He is the ‘cancellor’ of the debt after all and has seen your efforts. 😃
 
Hi MAV,
I think it was wonderful and Godly of you to pay back the money.
You have done a good thing, and God will surely smile on you for it.

Do not, however, worry yourself sick over whether the right person got the money.
You took reasonable steps to send it to the right person, so don’t drive
yourself nuts with worry about it.

Also, you say you took about $450 worth of food in all?
Well, do not feel that you have to name yourself to the people.
They might report you, and make a lot of trouble for you,
unless they are extremely merciful, forgiving and compassionate people.
You have repented and even tried to make amends. Let it go
and rest assured you have done the Right thing.
God bless you.
 
Wow, when I’ve worked at restaurants, one of the stated perks was a free meal there for every shift worked! I guess times have changed.
 
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