I've never been one to pick up a penny, unless it was
heads up, for good luck. I may think twice about it in the future.
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 water-way, 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 causally 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 can not
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...
