The value of a Penny
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 she 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 still 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...
.JPG)
