Picking Up Pennies

by Barbara McGirt M y husband Jeff has a habit of picking up pennies. Wherever we go, he is always on the lookout for pennies. He’s gotten pretty good at spotting them! It’s very rare that he finds a nickel, a dime, or a quarter, but when he does, he gladly picks those up too. But pennies…well, he finds lots of pennies.

His joy in discovering these small treasures isn’t for their face value, but rather for the words engraved on each one: In God we

trust. Each time he finds a coin, it is a reminder of God’s faithfulness. I recently went for a prayer walk around my neighborhood and came across a penny. I thought of Jeff and picked it up. A few feet later, there was another one.

Then another. It was almost as if, instead of bread crumbs, someone had left a trail of pennies for me to follow. I held these pennies in my hand, thinking of how excited Jeff would have been if he had found them. Eventually, I stopped walking to count my treasure. It totaled 23 cents! The dirty, sticky coins in my hand didn’t amount to much, but as I thought about what they meant to Jeff, I too realized that they were much more than spare change. They were speaking a truth that so many of us forget in the daily chaos and struggles of life.

Maybe we’re experiencing a health crisis or a family emergency. Maybe our children are wayward or we’ve lost a loved one to a dreaded disease. Life can take some nasty turns that we aren’t prepared for. We desperately need to be reminded that we can trust and depend on God. I thought about my own life as I looked over my pennies and began to personalize the message they preached. I have an aging mother who is hundreds of miles away. In God I trust. At times, I feel my work is without real meaning. In God I trust. I was recently diagnosed as prediabetic. In God I trust. Those pennies were reminding me that I can trust God with everything that was happening in my life. Far from being insignificant, the tiny copper coins in my hand were serving as a catalyst for my faith.

As my faith reignited, so too did my joy. I wondered how I could hold onto this feeling of complete trust in God. I thought about taking the pennies home and putting them in a jar, where they would serve as a visible reminder to trust God in every situation. But then I realized that I’m not the only one who struggles to believe in difficult circumstances. There may be someone walking down the same road who needs a bit of encouragement to trust God. As I headed home, I dropped the pennies one by one along the way, leaving a trail of hope and a reminder for those who may follow the same path: In God we trust.

332 3rd Street SW • Cleveland, TN • www.affordableRSG.com Call today for a FREE ESTIMATE 423.591.0325

Roofing Starting At $96 Per Month

ROOFING

LABOR & MANUFACTURER WARRANTY QUALITY SHINGLE & METAL MATERIAL INSURANCE CLAIMS SPECIALIST ü ü ü

COMBO SPECIAL $ 1000 OFF of any roof, siding, or window installation Must choose 2 trades. Roof & siding must be at least 20 squares. Other conditions apply. AFFORDABLE ROOFING SIDING GUTTERS With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Offer accepted for roof 20 sq or more. Expires: 03-15-20.

SPECIAL $ 500 OFF any roof purchase

Please present this coupon at the time of inspection. 20 squares at minimum. AFFORDABLE ROOFING SIDING GUTTERS With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Offer accepted for roof 20 sq or more. Expires: 03-15-20.