Penny Power

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. It really gives you something to think about.

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the home of her husband's employer.

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 their house. The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. Her 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 she was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment. 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, of course! 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?"

"Wait a second," he said, turning the coin over. "Now, what does it say."

"In God we Trust?"

"Yes!"

"And ... ?"

        

"The name of God is holy, even if it is on a coin. When I find a coin, I always look at this inscription. It's stamped on every single United States coin. I figure if 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 check to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as if to respond to God's reaffirming that I trust Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish the coin as if it were gold. I think of it as God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient, and pennies are plentiful!" --

When I was out shopping the other day, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and I 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 I had to laugh.

"Yes, God, I get it!"

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.

Thought for the Day: God is crazy about you!
So, if God brings you to it, God will bring you through it.

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