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
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 my friend 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. My friend 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 my friend and
 her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement
for a long, silent moment. 

My friend 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...