Check the Contents

I went to a second hand store the other day and as I was walking through the store, one of the employees comes out with what appears to be brand new lamp on it.  I didn't even let her set the items out, I simply asked if I could take it right away to place in my cart.
 
Very pleased with my 6.99 find, I went home and sat the box in the room that it was going to go in. About a week later when I was ready to use the lamp, I went to open the box only to find several miscellaneous items.  There was a blouse in there, a couple charger cords, some cat toys (I can't make this stuff up) and I don't know what else.  However, what wasn't in there was a lamp.
 
I just stopped and laughed at myself because I never actually checked the contents of the box.   So I politely took the box back with my receipt and got my money back. 
 
So what is the life empowered moment here? It's simple, we have to remember that the outside may not always reflect what's on the inside. Check into the heart of people before you buy their stories, check their motives before you compromise yourself, learn their behaviors before you decide to really associate yourself with them.  They very well can be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.