Just a Penny

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the home of her husband’s employer. 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. Her husband’s employer was quite generous as a host, and he 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 one 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 Arlene. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and she asked if the penny he had found had been of some value. He took the penny from his pocket 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 up the coin 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.

—

I, too, am grateful for the plentiful patience of God. And now I have a sweet reminder to trust in God everytime a coin passes my way.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 20:7, 9:10

Susan