A Penny for your Thoughts
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I'll never again pick up a penny without thinking of this.

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, Jean, was nervous about the weekend. 
The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on
 the waterway, and cars costing more than Jean’s house.

The first day and evening went well, and Jean
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.  Jean 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 Jean and her
husband.  He stopped suddenly, looking down on
the pavement for a long, silent moment. Jean
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 valuable.
 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.

~~~~Author Unknown ~~~~

Those who know your name will trust in you,
 for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
 Psalms 9:10
The one who trusts in Jesus will never be disappointed.
1 Peter 2:6

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