When I was a wee kid, mommy took me to the store to buy a small flashlight. It was kinda fun cuz I got to try turning many of ’em on and off til I finally settled on a little red one.

We got all the way back home before I noticed that I still had a little blue one in my left hand. Mommy, look! I still have this one too! I didn’t realize it cuz it was so small.

Without skipping a beat mommy had me back in the car going back to the store. She said she knew I was telling the truth but that I should NOT ONLY PUT IT BACK but also I should apologize to the clerk (who didn’t even know it was missing).

It was not a tearful apology – there was no need for that so it was a pleasant experience, but the reason it stuck with me through the years is that THE AUTOMATIC PART – THE RESTORATION (giving back what one has taken) COMES FIRST: after that an appropriate apology is fine.

I vaguely remember musing over the incident sometime later and realizing how an innocent and trivial accident could have turned into a bad seed planted IF I had simply KEPT the extra tiny flashlight.
drrobinstarbuck