Fwd: THE PENNY

[Guest guest]

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

ofextravagance 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 causally 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 an d 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 trus t

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...

>

> Have a blessed day!!