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 o 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....

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