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 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. I am blessed that 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
smile with joy.
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...
A gentle thought to reminds us that "in God we Trust" is fundamental to every
aspect of our lives from our spiritual self to the smallest denomination of
currency.
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please
authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances
dictate.
"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they
are yet speaking, I will hear. " Isaiah 65:24
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.
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