The Penny

 

I can remember walking with my dad when I was younger.  Wherever we were - the sidewalk, crossing the street, or in a field - if dad saw a penny he would stop to pick it up.  (Of course he’d look both ways to make sure there were no cars coming before stopping in the street!)

I would ask my dad, “Why do you stop to pick up pennies?”  In my mind pennies were pretty much worthless… unless you were one cent short of a dollar.  My dad’s response would go something like this, “Son, a penny may be small, but it still spends.  I thank God for all of my blessings - even pennies.  They add up.”  Then he’d encourage me to pick them up as well.  “Never be so proud that you don’t stop for a penny.”

Over the years, every time I saw a penny on the ground I would think about my dad’s example of gratefulness and wisdom as I walked past most of them.  I thought I was too good to stop and pick up pennies from the ground.  If I bought something and received change back that were pennies, that was fine, but to stop on a crowded street?  No way.  What would the other people think about me?

Recently, maybe around August 2008, I found myself counting my everyday blessings - large and small - and thanking God for His provision every day.  Maybe it had something to do with the economy being the way it is, but whatever the impetus, I started picking up pennies on the ground when I saw them - and thanking God for each one.

Then I began asking God to lead me to at least one penny a day - but preferably two: one penny on the way to work and one on the way home.  Part of me thought that I could probably amass enough pennies to outdo the meager 1-3 percent that my savings account was getting.

Do you know what happened?  Every day I would find 1-2 pennies.  Sometimes, it seemed like God would lead me right to them.  I would be walking quickly down the street, on my way to catch the train and a copper color would catch my eye.  I’d stop and look down to find a penny in front of me!

I thanked God for each penny I found.

There have been a couple of occasions when a few days passed without me finding any pennies.  3 days at 2 cents = six cents. I would pray about this as I walked, “Lord, I haven’t found any pennies the last three days…”  A few minutes later I would come across a dime!  Talk about interest!  God is good!

On Saturday, September 27th, I was sharing this story with a prayer group, talking about how we should be thankful to God for small blessings as well as big ones.  We all had a good laugh as members shared their penny experiences.  Some admitted they didn’t pick up pennies, but would start.  One member said, “I ALWAYS pick up pennies.  And I have three large jars at home to prove it.  Nobody touches my jars.”  Another said, “I want to find dollars on the ground.”  Others responded, “Pennies add up.  You find 100 pennies and you’ve found a dollar!”  Our prayer group leader added that each time we pick up a penny, do it in faith that God can and will multiply it.

Guess what happened…

On my way home from prayer, I was crossing a parking lot and came to a spot where 12 pennies were lying on the ground!  Talk about confirmation!  I know God was smiling.

Pennies may not seem like much to us, but they only seem like they’re not much.  Pennies - like bricks - can add up to a very tall building!  I also find that being prayerfully on the lookout for pennies and grateful to God when I find them, helps draw me closer to God on a daily basis.  It also helps open my eyes to new possibilities which I might normally miss.

God wants to bless us in so many ways.  You may be worried about the economy and whether or not you’ll have a job or can find one.  But know that God wastes nothing - large or small.  He can take the little and multiply it into much.  Christ is the Source of all your provision. (Matthew 6:33)

I thank God for my dad’s example of wisdom.  It left an indelible mark in my mind which I now apply to my heart.  Pennies add up.  Will you join in the search and give God thanks for ALL of your blessings, no matter their size?  Let me know.

-Allen Paul Weaver III-

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Filed under: Risks and Opportunities • Sociology • Spirituality

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