By Traci Scott,
This is a story about two West Coast single parents and their recent faith challenges. One day Washington single mother Lynita Regis was struggling to pay her bills and was facing eviction. The next day she had over $270,000 in her checking account. The answer to her prayers? Not exactly. Regis realized a banking error must have occurred, but temptation set in, and she started spending the money in her mind. Although she could have definitely used the money, Regis’ conscience and faith won out. “It’s a struggle, we’re human but a child of God and gotta do the right thing even though I have nothing,” Regis said.
According to KOMO News, the money actually belongs to King County. Regis once worked at the jail there and had signee privileges that she was not aware of. When she was recently issued a new debit card, the bank mistakenly gave her access to the jail account. Both the bank and the jail are reviewing their systems to ensure the same thing does not occur again.
After the incident was cleared up, Regis was issued a new card. After paying her rent, Regis is now $3 overdrawn.
“At the end of the day, are you gonna sell your soul for $271,366.01?” Regis said, her conscience clear.
Eli Estrada’s story
And back in March, Eli Estrada, a landscaper from Highland Park, California, found $140,000 in the street on his way to work.
His first thought was, “I’m rich.”
He immediately decided to turn in the money—even though he realized the money would go a long way toward improving his life—because it would be wrong to keep it.
According to the LA Times, about six months ago, Estrada opened a landscaping and artificial-grass business, and is in debt. He has child support payments he struggles to make and is also supporting his mother who is currently living with him after losing her house last year due to bankruptcy.
After driving to work in Long Beach, Estrada told his clients he wanted to turn the money in, so they called the Long Beach Police Department. The money was apparently lost by Brinks armored truck drivers, according to authorities.
Officers were surprised anyone would turn in that amount of money and wouldn’t ask for a reward.
Estrada’s mother, Rosa Estrada, said her son had always been nervous about doing something unethical or illegal and that her son “wouldn’t be able to sleep” if he didn’t turn in the money
Estrada’s conscience is clear, though he admitted it was hard to give up the money. Brinks later gave Estrada $2,000 for turning in the money.
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