Never Become A Thief!

Kweku being the only child of his parents was pampered and had everything at his disposal but he was not satisfied with what his parents gave him. He always wanted to show off in school. Therefore, he had to steal to supplement whatever his parents provided.

He started by stealing small amounts of money and as the years went by he graduated into stealing large sums of money. Since his parents were rich, they did not realise it.

Kweku grew up and got employed in one of the leading banks in the country. Because he had cultivated the habit of stealing, his urge to steal from the bank was high.

He couldn't control this urge and finally fell for the devil. Luck ran out on him when he was caught in the process. He was taken to court, and made to face the full rigours of the law.

Many of you, like Kweku, may have started stealing money from your parents or guardians. How would you feel when someone stole from you? Mind you, no one is born a thief.

Your desire for things that do not belong to you such as money and food could make you begin to steal. So greed is at the bottom of dishonesty.

A thief may come from a good family and his parents and siblings may be honest people.

Have you ever wondered how one becomes a thief? You may start with small things that are not very significant such as stealing fish from the stew or soup at home, or coins, pencils, pens or story books from your friends at school.

You may go to play with other children and pilfer something to your house. All these are various forms of stealing.

Do you know that children who steal also tell lies? Some students can tell lies to extort money from their parents or cover up their act. They are also likely to fight, cheat, or ignore rules and disrespect other people. So you realise that one bad thing leads you to another and eventually becomes a habit.

Then you get caught and are disgraced. Stealing, you know, has serious consequences because it hurts everyone. Stealing causes serious problems for families.

However, if stealing becomes a habit, you can still change your ways. You sometimes make mistakes, but there are ways to get back on the right track. You can ask adults to help you. Parents and counsellors can help you with troubles that may have led you to steal in the first place.

Everyone likes children who are honest and follow what they know is right. When you are liked by others it also makes you feel happy. Bear in mind that you can always learn right from wrong, get better at self-control, and learn to solve problems without stealing.

Here are some tips to help you stop stealing.

• Don't hang out with kids who steal. It's not smart to go along with someone just because he's your friend or because you don't want to be left out. If someone is caught stealing, you could get in trouble just because you were there with him when it happened.

•Follow your conscience and don't do anything that would hurt others. Do what you know is right.

•Ask permission whenever you are using or taking something that does not belong to you.

By Hannah Acheampong