A Penny for your Thought

This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story. Gave me something to think about.

The Story (an e-mail)

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. 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 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 to 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.

"I Wish You Enough"

A friend, Michelle, e-mailed me this and I liked it. I thought it would be fitting to post here. Thank you, Michelle.

Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, "I love you and I wish you enough."

The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom."

They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?"

"Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?"

"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is -- the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.

"When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?"

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more. "When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them."

Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

She then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them but then an entire life to forget them.

To all my friends and loved ones, I WISH YOU ENOUGH........

As Christian ladies, we need to watch many things about our lives.

As Christian ladies, we need to watch many things about our lives. I think the biggest is our tongue. I know that as a Christian lady, I have not always been the lady that I should have been. I have let my tongue run wild.

Let me tell you of a story...

There was once a missonary family who went to the mission field, and they were excited about serving the Lord. The field they went to is a hard place to reach folks. It is actually a place with a lot of “religions”, but the natives really don’t KNOW who God is. This missionary family met many Christians and other missionaries. They fellowshipped. Tried to be a blessing. They were genuine Christian family. Oh sure, they may not have dotted their i’s and and crossed their t’s exactly the same way as some, but they loved God and were called to go to this mission field.

Marie started to get to know the family and was glad to have another Christian lady to fellowship with. As on the mission field, they are few and far between. Marie enjoyed fellowshipping with Noel. Noel had a lot that Marie could benefit from in learning how to be a better Christian wife, as well as a mother. Noel was a blessing to be around.

The problem began when Marie began to listen to those other “Christians.” Marie looked up to these “Christians.” They had it all figured out and when Marie was around them, she felt like it was an honour to be able to fellowship with them. Sad to say, Marie didn’t read her Bible like she should have. She was in “awe” of these mighty Christians. Who needed to read God’s Word when she could just listen to them? Wasn’t that all she needed? They would tell her how to live.

Sad to say, these other “Christians” began to attack at this missionary family. Marie began to look at their faults (never mind the ones in her own life) and started to attack as well. After all, these were "mighty Christians” in her eyes and she would have never questioned what they did was wrong.

That missionary family never attacked back. They were hurt, shocked, and greatly saddened at the lost of friendship. While great persecution was going on; they went on for the Lord. When they were shut out; they plugged on alone. They drew their strength from the Lord and went on. Never understanding why God would allow this, but knowing that God had a reason, a purpose and He would take care of it.

You know, being with “Christians” who live on attack mode, you can never really be friends with them. When that family didn’t attack back, those “Christians” started looking amongst their own crowd for fresh meat. Surely, there was someone lagging behind that needed straightening out. When anyone would be out of line, they would quickly correct it (never allowing the Holy Spirit to do His job). And if you didn’t correct it, then they would smell that “fresh meat.”

Marie's family were the next to be attacked. It hurt. It hurt, as she couldn’t believe. How could they do this?

Marie's family no longer fit the mold. They had a flaw. Their i’s and t’s didn’t match.

The "mighty Christians" started circling. Then they attacked with many lies. It still hurts, but not quite as bad as it once did. The "mighty Christians" began to tell others that they thought Marie's family believed, but Marie's family didn’t. The "mighty Chrisitans" began to say that Marie's husband, who was a pastor of a small church was just a run down church. The "mighty Christians" began to attack Marie's husband saying he wasn't out knocking on doors, but Marie and her family knew the truth. The whole family went out soul winning.

The "mighty Christians" began to sound the alarm far and wide. It was their job to do that. It didn't matter that what was being sounded wasn't even the truth. Everybody ought to know (not who Jesus is) that these people don’t dot their i’s like us and cross their t’s.

Remember that missionary family? I can rejoice in saying that they forgave Marie and her family. It was a precious time of reunion. It took awhile for the trust to be built back up between the two families. They today have grown close to one another. They are a blessing to one another. Even though there is a spot on Marie's page of friendship, she can look back and praise God that HE TOOK CARE OF IT ALL!

Marie began to realized that she needed to be in her Bible more and getting her help from the Lord. Marie quietly looks up to Noel, but realizes that she cannot rely on Noel for help, but must fully put her trust in the Lord. Marie looks up to Noel as an example of what she would like to be: A sweet wife, mother, and a Christian lady who allows God to fight her battles. Noel and Marie fellowship now. When others come and want to share garbage with Marie, her reply is, “I don’t want to hear it!” Plain. Simple. It is God’s plan.

Those other “mighty Christians?” They have moved onto some more of their own. They apparently found some more “fresh meat.” Those new ones are hurting bad. Struggling to get over it. They still strike out at Noel's and Marie's families and say things that aren’t true. Oh sure, Maire would love to help the Holy Spirit to set them straight, but she has learned that it isn’t her job to do.

Maybe there is someone you know that is hurting. The story might not be the same, but nevertheless they are huritng. In the next posting, I plan on showing how to learn to allow God to fight your battles. I will also post how to learn to allow God to heal you from those hurts.

The Lawyer being a good salesman

One afternoon a lawyer was riding in his limousine when he saw two men along the roadside eating grass.

Disturbed, he ordered his driver to stop and he got out to investigate.

He asked one man, "Why are you eating grass?"

"We don't have any money for food," the poor man replied. "We have to eat grass."

"Well, then, you can come with me to my house and I'll feed you," the lawyer said.

"But sir, I have a wife and two children with me. They are over there, under that tree."

"Bring them along," the lawyer replied.

Turning to the other poor man he stated, "You come with us, also."

The second man, in a pitiful voice, then said, "But sir, I also have a wife and SIX children with me!"

"Bring them all, as well," the lawyer answered.

They all entered the car, which was no easy task, even for a car as large as the limousine was.

Once underway, one of the poor fellows turned to the lawyer and said, "Sir, you are too kind. Thank you for taking all of us with you."

The lawyer replied, "Glad to do it. You'll really love my place.The grass is almost a foot high."