Several years ago, I wrote about the choices we face every day, and that each choice we make comes with consequences which can be either good or bad.

The first time I remember making choices was when, as a young boy, I was falsely accused of bad behavior at school. My choices were to ignore the extra homework I was assigned by my teacher as punishment, do the homework as required by my teacher, or turn the homework assignment into a “cry for justice,” which I hoped my teacher would consider since I felt I was wrongly accused.

The consequences I faced if I didn’t do the extra homework, or if I turned it into a cry for justice, could potentially cause something even worse to occur. After due consideration and consultation with the smartest person I knew at the time, my mother, I decided to take a chance of facing more bad consequences and make my cry for justice as to why I was wrongly accused.

My mother, by the way, didn’t approve of my choice, but she didn’t interfere with it either as she wanted me to learn a lesson no matter which choice I made.

I’ve repeated this story in order to tell you about Audrey. She wanted to make sure that she was the beneficiary of some money which was available. However, when she told me how she was going to get it, I quickly realized that it was wrong and possibly illegal. I advised her to consult with a lawyer, but Audrey was determined to do things her way.

My choices with Audrey were to ignore the situation, report the activity to the authorities, or confront Audrey directly. I decided to confront her.

I usually don’t interfere with the way others run their lives, but I just can’t stand by and watch possible illegal activity, either. I wasn’t brought up that way.

By confronting Audrey, I may have made a new enemy, even though I felt it was in her best interests, and mine, to do so. Now, she seems mad when she speaks to me, but hopefully she’ll eventually realize the reasons for my confrontation with her.

The lesson that I learned as a young boy when I made my “cry for justice” to my teacher was that most people will see the truth if you speak the truth. I hope that Audrey will see the truth in my words to her, also, because that’s what I tried to do.

As it turned out, the plan Audrey devised to get money was indeed illegal. I felt justified that I had confronted her, but sad that I might have lost a good friend. Lessons learned often come with consequences, too.

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