08 If They’re Your Friend, Is It Okay to Lend Them Money?
/08 If They’re Your Friend, Is It Okay to Lend Them Money?
Avni was cheerful and caring, and always wanted to help people in trouble.
/Avni was cheerful and caring, and always wanted to help people in trouble.
One lunch break, her close friend *Rina approached her with a slightly troubled look.
/One lunch break, her close friend *Rina approached her with a slightly troubled look.
“Hey, *Avni. I have a favor to ask… Today, the bakery is selling a new melon bread. But I forgot my wallet… Could you lend me just 1 dollar?”
/”Hey, *Avni. I have a favor to ask… Today, the bakery is selling a new melon bread. But I forgot my wallet… Could you lend me just 1 dollar?”
Avni was a little surprised, but said, “Sure,” and took a 1 dollar coin from her pocket.
/Avni was a little surprised, but said, “Sure,” and took a 1 dollar coin from her pocket.
“Thanks! I’ll definitely pay you back tomorrow!”
/”Thanks! I’ll definitely pay you back tomorrow!”
Rina ran off happily.
/Rina ran off happily.
The next day, *Rina didn’t say anything.
/The next day, *Rina didn’t say anything.
Avni couldn’t bring it up, and was left with a cloudy feeling.
/Avni couldn’t bring it up, and was left with a cloudy feeling.
On Friday that week, *Rina came to her again.
/On Friday that week, *Rina came to her again.
“Sorry, I forgot my wallet again. Can you lend me 2 dollars this time?”
/”Sorry, I forgot my wallet again. Can you lend me 2 dollars this time?”
Avni hesitated a little, but lent her the money again.
/Avni hesitated a little, but lent her the money again.
“Thanks! You really saved me!”
/”Thanks! You really saved me!”
But again, she didn’t get the money back.
/But again, she didn’t get the money back.
At home, *Avni told her mother about it. Her mother listened quietly and then said,
/At home, *Avni told her mother about it. Her mother listened quietly and then said,
“Avni, it’s wonderful that you want to help your friend. But money comes with responsibility, not just feelings. Lending money can sometimes break a friendship.”
/”Avni, it’s wonderful that you want to help your friend. But money comes with responsibility, not just feelings. Lending money can sometimes break a friendship.”
“But *Rina was in trouble…”
/”But *Rina was in trouble…”
“It’s important to think about how to help someone when they’re in trouble. Lending money isn’t always the right answer.”
/”It’s important to think about how to help someone when they’re in trouble. Lending money isn’t always the right answer.”
That weekend, *Avni went shopping with her father. On the way home, her father said,
/That weekend, *Avni went shopping with her father. On the way home, her father said,
“Long ago, I lent money to a friend too. But he didn’t pay me back, and things got awkward. Eventually, we stopped talking.”
/”Long ago, I lent money to a friend too. But he didn’t pay me back, and things got awkward. Eventually, we stopped talking.”
“Really? That happens?”
/”Really? That happens?”
“It does. That’s why I’ve decided not to lend money to friends anymore. Instead, I think about other ways to help.”
/”It does. That’s why I’ve decided not to lend money to friends anymore. Instead, I think about other ways to help.”
On Monday, *Rina came to *Avni again.
/On Monday, *Rina came to *Avni again.
“Avni, can you lend me money again today? This time, 3 dollars…”
/”Avni, can you lend me money again today? This time, 3 dollars…”
Avni gathered a bit of courage and said,
/Avni gathered a bit of courage and said,
“Rina, I’m sorry. I can’t lend you money. But maybe we can talk to the teacher? Or explain the situation to the bakery?”
/”Rina, I’m sorry. I can’t lend you money. But maybe we can talk to the teacher? Or explain the situation to the bakery?”
Rina looked surprised. But after thinking a bit, she said,
/Rina looked surprised. But after thinking a bit, she said,
“Yeah… you’re right. I’ll talk to the teacher.”
/”Yeah… you’re right. I’ll talk to the teacher.”
After school that day, *Rina told *Avni,
/After school that day, *Rina told *Avni,
“The teacher said if I forget things often, I should make a checklist. And when I explained to the bakery, they said I could pay next time.”
/”The teacher said if I forget things often, I should make a checklist. And when I explained to the bakery, they said I could pay next time.”
Avni felt relieved.
/Avni felt relieved.
“I’m glad. I don’t like seeing *Rina in trouble, but I’m happy I could help in a proper way.”
/”I’m glad. I don’t like seeing *Rina in trouble, but I’m happy I could help in a proper way.”
Rina smiled and said,
/Rina smiled and said,
“Avni, thank you. You helped me with your heart, not with money.”
/”Avni, thank you. You helped me with your heart, not with money.”
That day, *Avni wrote in her diary:
/That day, *Avni wrote in her diary:
Today’s Realization
/Today’s Realization
There are many ways to help a friend.
/There are many ways to help a friend.
Lending money can sometimes break a friendship.
/Lending money can sometimes break a friendship.
What really matters is helping in the right way, with care for the other person.
/What really matters is helping in the right way, with care for the other person.
Avni thought,
/Avni thought,
“Friendship isn’t built on money, but on kindness and trust.”
/”Friendship isn’t built on money, but on kindness and trust.”
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
Q1. How much money did *Avni first lend to *Rina?
/Q1. How much money did *Avni first lend to *Rina?
A. 3 dollars
/A. 3 dollars
B. 1 dollar
/B. 1 dollar
C. 2 dollars
/C. 2 dollars
Q2. What did *Avni say to *Rina at the end?
/Q2. What did *Avni say to *Rina at the end?
A. “We’re not friends anymore.”
/A. “We’re not friends anymore.”
B. “I can’t lend you money, but let’s talk to the teacher.”
/B. “I can’t lend you money, but let’s talk to the teacher.”
C. “Let’s stop going to the bakery.”
/C. “Let’s stop going to the bakery.”
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
What do you think about friends who are willing to lend you money? What advice would you give to someone who continues to lend money even though they haven’t received it back?
/What do you think about friends who are willing to lend you money? What advice would you give to someone who continues to lend money even though they haven’t received it back?
When you want to help a friend in trouble, what are some ways to help besides giving money?
/When you want to help a friend in trouble, what are some ways to help besides giving money?
