As I parked the car and got out to enter the store, my eyes were drawn to the ground. Why, there was a penny! As I picked it up, I was reminded of an experience I'd heard recently. Quickly, it flashed back in its entirety across my mind and heart.

The story was told of a man who'd given his heart to the Lord after living a riotous, wicked life. Much of his life was spent with his head hanging low, feeling the weight of his world on his shoulders. Now, with his newfound faith and relationship with God, he has a spring in his step and a lilt in his spirit. He found it especially delightful to walk with his head held high.

One day, however, a well-meaning elder Christian, noting this man's head held high, took him aside and admonished him to "walk with a posture of humility." So, in the spirit of obedience and with a desire to walk in humility, the gentleman decided to return to his original posture and look to the ground again. To his surprise he discovered that lots of pennies could be found just by looking at the ground. Relating his "find," he told of how God used this opportunity to illustrate a spiritual lesson to him. The pennies were significant of all the "little blessings" that God sends to His children every day. However, most people don't discover them because they are so occupied with looking upward for the "big miracles", that they miss the little things that God does to brighten each and every day.

After the momentary replay of this illustration in my mind, I entered the store with $5. to spend on bread for the week. As I entered the store, there were the usual bargains displayed. The first item I spotted was a loaf of English muffin bread. Knowing how much everyone in our family loved English muffin bread toasted for breakfast, my first impulse was to pick it up. But my silent response was, "No, that wouldn't be practical. We need bread for sandwiches."

Moving down the isle I spotted powdered donuts. Since our family had been on a low fat, low cholesterol diet for medical reasons since the beginning of the year, I quickly said to myself, "Oh, these would be a great treat for the girls' lunches. They've not had donuts in so long." But practicality stepped up and quickly spoke, "No, you need bread, so skip the donuts."

I proceeded further only to find fat-free hot dog buns on sale! They surely would be a wise buy. Since we had the fat-free hot dogs at home and these buns would help complete a quick evening meal, it seemed logical to get them. Again I heard those daunting words, "That would not practical. You only have $5. Pass it up!" In an effort to be delivered from any further tempting purchases, I conceded and quickly grabbed four loaves of bread so I could return to work.

As I placed the bread on the check out counter and prepared to pay for my disciplined purchase, the clerk asked me if I had their current bread stamp card. I was sure I had something from distant previous purchases, though it had been a very long time since my last visit to the little shop. During a quick, thorough search through a handful of paraphernalia, the clerk spotted my old tattered card. There was no need to hand it over, as the clerk grabbed it out of my hand and with a big smile replied, "Oh, we honor these too!" Still stunned by the clerk's response, I asked, "What's it good for?" The clerk replied, "Our new card are good for a dollar off your purchase when they are filled. However, this is our old card and since it's filled, you can pick out any loaf of bread, a package of donuts, and a bag of hot dogs or hamburger buns."

In that moment, it seemed like Christmas had come! Every item I had originally spotted and wished for but couldn't get was suddenly and unexpectedly available and accessible at no charge to me through a simple old card I'd long forgotten I had. All I had to do was go get them. Exuberant, face aglow, and lit up with a smile, I clapped my hands together and in joy like a child who'd just gotten a new toy, I chased after my English muffin bread, powdered donuts, and fat-free hot dog buns.

My heart was full of glee and a giggle cam from my lips as I headed towards the car. A spontaneous, tickling outburst of "Thank you, Lord" resounded from my lips as it bounced heavenward.

In that moment, God so gently and tenderly spoke to my spirit and replied in a voice that was softer than a whisper, "This is your penny from Heaven for today."

In the gentle quietness of that moment, my view of life was refocused again. It had been nine very difficult months filled with my husband's 6-bypass surgery, his sister's surgery and divorce, my surgery, his mother's stroke, the blood clot in my older brother's foot that led to amputation, and my youngest brother's farming accident that threatened his life and resulted in the loss of most of his right arm. Six months prior to the beginning of that year, I lost my 37-year-old sister, whom I cherished as my "best friend," when she lost her valiant fight to cancer that had ravaged her body and her spirit.

God had visited me! What a wonderful, unexpected and delightful visit we'd just had. The excitement of that moment and the transformation of my spirit continued on as I resumed my daily routine, which included working late and another trip to the hospital to visit my dear mother-in-law on my way home.

That evening after my husband and daughters were in a soft slumber, I tiptoed into the kitchen to pack each of their lunches for the next day. I felt like Santa that night as I put a donut in each of the girls' lunches and a note in my husband's lunch. Since powder sugared donuts were not permitted in his diet, he'd been given an invitation to share in a time of quiet reflection later that evening. We could look at the "pennies he'd found during his day and I could share the pennies I'd found. Although each penny we'd view would have a special look all its own, we could still delight in "comparing copper."

The sugar on the donuts would not be nearly as sweet as the message sent in the hidden notes at the bottom of each family member's lunch bag explaining that pennies from Heaven were special blessings sent by God to brighten each and every day. I couldn't wait for tomorrow to come! Oh, what a prize they'd find!!

Written in 1996 by Sandy Hall.

Here's Sandy's email address should you wish to communicate with her.

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19 (KJV)."

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Thanks for visiting the Devo Dessert Bar today! Hope you were refreshed, and you will return!
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