JUST A 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 her husband and
mine 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 her 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 was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an
exclusive restaurant one 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.
Thought for the Day:
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be
on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning.
Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!
Send this to every beautiful person you wish to
bless.
God didn't promise days without pain, laughter
without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the
day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way..
Read this line very slowly and let it sink in.
If God brings you to it, He will bring you
through it.
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