I have been thinking about this question a lot over the last few weeks.  I have recently completed a year long coaching certification program and am very excited and eager to build my vision and dream of assisting others in discovering and living their greatness.  I also currently have a very demanding full time Job that is requiring more time from me than I would like.  I will admit that I have felt a little overwhelmed lately as I work to balance my current job and my dream of being a successful life and personal development coach

My Grandfather shared this story with our family this week. It was perfect timing for me and provided me with a great reminder. It reminded that as I put my trust in God…and do everything in my power to create the type of life I want…he will always take care of me.

I hope you enjoy this story, and whether you believe in God or not, find something in it that you can relate to.

JUST A PENNY

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the home of her husband’s employer.  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. Her 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 one 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.