Pennies from Heaven

I have always heard the story about how pennies are from Heaven but this
will make me think the next time I pick up a penny. Blessings to you

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 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 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...