Boy returned the money his father stole from an old, vulnerable woman—but her response left him gobsmacked
It’s heartbreaking to see loved ones resort to unconventional and negative acts. One can only imagine how 15-year-old Christian Lunsford felt when his dad robbed a widow, Tona Herndon, per CBS News. The 78-year-old woman was at her worst, and to somehow make it even more heartbreaking, the man robbed her while she was visiting her husband’s grave. When the teenager learned of his dad’s actions, he decided to right the wrong. He was met with a jaw-dropping response when he approached Herndon. The teenager recalled how his dad had been absent from his life following his parents’ divorce when he was two years old.
The young man mentioned that his father would occasionally show up but was mostly in and out of jail a couple of times. The teenager recalled his last meeting with his dad from weeks ago. He was given $250 to go on a band trip he was eager about. Witnessing his dad’s actions and the repercussions pushed him to wonder about himself. "There are times that you just feel really low, like, 'Is that going to be me?'" he mentioned. According to Mental Health, adolescents learn about morals and values majorly from what they witness and experience. Through their daily encounters and family perspectives on values, they get an understanding of which path they wish to follow.
Lunsford often pondered if he’d end up like his father but answered himself a few weeks later when Herndon was robbed. She was visiting her husband’s grave. She had lost her partner of 60 years two weeks before and grief was still weighing her down. "You know, I really didn't even know anything was going wrong until I was halfway in the car," she recalled. The man robbed her purse, getting hold of $700. The police caught him and had his mugshot circulated everywhere. 15-year-old Lunsford spotted this picture on TV and knew that it was his dad. When the teenager heard of the news, his first thought was that he needed to contact the woman.
He requested Herndon to meet him at the parking lot. Unsure what to expect, the woman showed up. Lunsford apologized to the widow on behalf of his dad. "It needed to be done. She needed an apology from somebody. If I didn't apologize, who would?" he reflected. The acknowledgment and responsible impression really left Herndon flattered. She found it “precious” that the boy was trying his best to right a wrong. “Any 15-year-old boy who has that much conscience is extraordinary,” she remarked. The teenager went on to offer the $250 he received earlier from his dad for the trip to Herndon.
“I'm not sure if it was yours or however he got it but I'd feel bad if I didn't give it to you," Lunsford said. Moved by the boy’s gesture, the woman decided to accept the money and gave him an unexpected response. She noted that since the money was now hers, she wanted to give it all back to Lunsford so he could go on that trip. "It was a joy to do that," the 78-year-old remarked. It might seem like going to the parking lot was all in vain but the duo left with invaluable realizations. "I feel more like my life still has a purpose," Herndon exclaimed. "You're not who your parents are. Even if they do raise you, you can become whatever you want to be,” Lunsford remarked.