What Virginia should have done before giving Norman $500,000
In In His Steps by Charles Sheldon, Virginia donates half a million dollars to support Norman’s newspaper. The question “What should Virginia have done before giving editor Norman $500,000?” is typically asked in literature classes to prompt students to think about judgment, responsibility, and the novel’s moral framework (“What Would Jesus Do?”).
From the search results, we know what she did with the money, but not directly what she should have done. The text does not explicitly state a “correct” action, so the answer must be inferred from the novel’s themes.
What the sources confirm
- Virginia gives the money to support Norman’s paper and the evangelists Mr. and Mrs. Gray.
- The novel emphasizes careful moral reflection before major decisions (“What Would Jesus Do?”).
Reasoned literary answer
Given the novel’s central moral challenge, the most supported interpretation is:
Virginia should have paused to apply the “What Would Jesus Do?” principle before giving Norman the $500,000. This would include:
Reflecting on whether the donation truly aligned with Christian service
Considering whether the money could better serve the poor or the evangelists
Seeking counsel or prayer before acting
This aligns with the book’s repeated insistence that characters examine their motives and choices through a spiritual lens before taking action.
Lesson Learning 