The Kleptomaniac

One summer day as a woman was walking by a church, she heard through the opened window the words; “Thou shalt not steal!” Strangely, the words seemed to penetrate to the depths of her soul. She was a kleptomaniac. Never before had words made such an impression on her.

Rushing home as if her dealings had become transparent to all she rushed inside. Before her, as if standing before the judgment, came all of the times she had stolen.

But why was she feeling badly about it now. The words kept ringing in her ears, “Thou shalt not steal.” Unable to sleep, she decided to visit the church the following day in hope of relief. When she visited with the pastor and discovered it was his voice she heard, she told the story.

Surprised and amazed at the woman’s confession, he could not doubt but that it was not he, but God who had spoken to her. “If you want peace of heart,” the pastor counseled, “you must make matters right.”

“But if I do,” she responded, “I will probably spend a long time in jail.” “God has spoken to you,” the pastor replied, “Therefore, you will not have peace until you make restitution.”

With this, the woman left. When at home, she began to calculate the amount she had taken through the years.

Though fearful of the consequences, she made her way to the stores from which she had been stealing. Surprised and shocked, the store owners listened as she unfolded her story—tracing her conviction to that walk by the church window. Greatly relieved that the loss from this astute thief had finally come to an end, they gladly pardoned her.

Returning home greatly thankful, and at peace, the converted kleptomaniac realized God’s great mercy and forgiveness.