SINCERELY SCOTTY by Walter Scott: Penny on the Ground

Did you ever see a penny on the ground? Did you stop and pick it up? I believe that in today’s world, most people wouldn’t bother to stoop over and pick it up. It now costs the government more than a penny to make a penny. My wife believes that if you find a penny with heads up, you will have good luck. She doesn’t say what tails up means.

When I was a kid, we believed it was our lucky day to find a penny. It would work in a gum machine so we were getting something for nothing. But today, about all a penny will do is make a small part of the sales tax on an item. But just a penny can mean a lot more than its intrinsic value. Think about this story:

One time an employee and his wife were invited to his employer’s home. Of course the wife was eager to see how the very wealthy lived. They were taken to one of the finest restaurants in town. As they walked up to the door, the employer stopped and looked at the ground. There among many cigarette butts, was an old penny. He stooped, picked it up, held it up and smiled as he put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure! How ridiculous, thought the wife. He had no need for a single penny.

Throughout the dinner, the scene over the penny bothered her. When she couldn’t stand the curiosity any longer, she casually asked him about the penny. Was it rare and of some value? He smiled as he reached into his pocket for the penny and he held it out to her. What was the point, she again wondered to herself. “Look at it,” he said. “Read what it says.” She read, “United States of America.” “No, not that; read further.” “One cent?” “No, keep reading.” “In God We Trust?” “Yes,” he replied.     “And?” she asked.

“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. God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him. Who am I to pass that up? I pray, I stop to see if my trust is in God at that moment.  It is God’s way of starting a conversation with me. And lucky for me, God is patient and there are plenty of pennies!”

There are many signs of God letting us know he is there and patiently waiting for us to recognize and talk to Him. Sadly, most of us, and I’m just as guilty, simply ignore the opportunity and continue as if he wasn’t there.,

So the next time you find a penny think about this story. Stop and pick it up. Read it and wonder if God is trying to get your attention and trust. Maybe you will realize that you are worrying about something you cannot control or change.

Or maybe you are having regrets about some unkind words you’ve said or some deed you’ve done. Then read the words, “In God We Trust.” Perhaps you will then say to yourself, yes, God, I got your message. I’ll bet you will find more pennies, for they really are plentiful — and God really is patient.