The Penny
You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the
sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This
is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story.
Gives you something to think about.
Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband
were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's
employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous
about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with
a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more
than her house.
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was
delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very
wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite
generous as a host, and took them to the finest
restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the
opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance
again, so was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive
restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly
ahead of Arlene and her husband.
He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement
for a long, silent moment.
Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him.
There was nothing on the ground except a single
darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a
few cigarette butts Still silent, the man reached down
and picked up the penny.
He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if
he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What
need did this man have for a single penny? Why would
he even take the time to stop and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her.
Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually
mentioned that her daughter once had a coin
collection, and asked if the penny he had found had
been of some value.
A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into
his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see.
She had seen many pennies before! What was the
point of this?
"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says." She read
the words "United States of America"
"No, not that; read further."
"One cent?" "No, keep reading."
"In God we Trust?" "Yes!" "And?"
"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy,
even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that
inscription. It is written on every single United States
coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a
message right in front of me telling me to trust Him?
Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I
stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment.
I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do
trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it
as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting
a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient
and pennies are plentiful!
When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on
the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized
that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind
about things I cannot change. I read the words, "In
God We Trust," and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the
message.
It seems that I have been finding an inordinate
number of pennies in the last few months, but then,
pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient..
(online forwarded message)