18 August 2008

I love this!

I got this from my mom, and it really made me think. God has been so patient with me, and I never give him enough credit for all that he has blessed our family with. So many things seem to be falling into place, and I have been so scared that they wouldn't. We signed on our house today, and our closing costs were almost $1000 less then we anticipated, our monthly payment is $300 less than I thought it would be, and the sellers accepted an offer that was $15,000 less than their asking price. Talk about throwing us some pennies! (You have to read this to get it.) I am grateful that God is watching out for me. I have so little faith, it is pathetic to me sometimes. He always comes through for us, not always in the way we anticipated, but he can't make it too easy or we would never be humbled...to thank him daily for the blessings he sends our way. This is the story I will remember whenever I see a penny on the ground, and will try to remember to trust in God everyday.


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 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. 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..

2 comments:

Steph said...

Hey Melissa - I've been meaning to leave a comment and just haven't gotten around to it. I found your website thru the Quiner's blog - longtime no "see". Great to see how your family has grown and what "y'all" have been up to.

Take care!
Stephanie

Unknown said...

See there..not all of my "forwards" are stupid! Joel on the other hand said he couldn't be "motivated" to read this because a.) it was too long and b.)"it was actually the large type that turned me off. it was all fancy looking and annoying to read. i got about a paragraph in and sai screw it. if it had been normal type i may have finished it." Directly quoted! I can't wait for him to see it on your blog! I was trying to come up with a way to make the font plain and send it back to him but you did it for me!