Video: Tupelo Business Owner Receives Long Due Restitution

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The well known saying ‘To err is human, to forgive, divine” has been played out in the life of a Tupelo businesswoman and an anonymous, former customer.

WCBI’s Allie Martin has a story on forgiveness and restitution, years in the making.

Everyday, Lisa Hawkins goes through the mail at Room to Room Furniture. Usually, there are bills, cards and catalogs, but a few days ago, the unexpected happened.

“I opened it up and I was really amazed and it was probably one of the best Christmas gifts I had ever received because it was a person who was truly sorry for something that they had done in the past.”

Inside the envelope, Hawkins unfolded this letter, and read it.

“It says, Lisa, I owe you this money when you had the Velveteen Rabbit, I took some clothes out on approval and did not return them all, please forgive me.”

The anonymous letter writer sent 50 dollars in cash.

Long before there was a Room to Room Furniture, Lisa and her husband, Jim, owned “The Velveteen Rabbit,” a children’s clothing store near Crosstown. But the business closed nearly 20 years ago, and Hawkins says she doesn’t remember the items taken,  or the mystery shopper.

“To think of the misery they have been through, for these 17 , 18 years it’s really kind of heartbreaking, but I’m glad they can have forgiveness, especially this Christmas season when we celebrate Christ’s birth.”

Hawkins, who is well known through her store’s commercial’s and community activism, says the letter provides a great life lesson.

“If something has gone wrong in your life, go and ask forgiveness with that person.”

Hawkins shows the letter to customers and associates and after they recover from their shock,  they want to know what she plans to do with the money.

“This money I received, I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do with it, but it will be used to serve somebody else.”

In Tupelo I’m Allie Martin WCBI News.

Room to Room has supplied furniture to the family of slain Tupelo Police Sergeant Gale Stauffer. They have also helped many tornado victims whose homes were destroyed or damaged.