A penny for your thoughts? Would you pick up a penny in the streets?

Philippines
April 1, 2008 3:52am CST
How often do you find yourself in the street and see a penny and pick it up? I often find myself pick up pennies from the street but sometimes I let it go when it does not permit and Im in a hurry. But now, Im inspired by this story sent by my mom and from now on will think to pick up pennies in the street: 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, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite a generous 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 out for her to see. She had seen so 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?" "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 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 a plentiful! When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, 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 got the message. It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And God is patient....
2 people like this
17 responses
@fajmarz (29)
• Philippines
1 Apr 08
If I find a penny in the street during walking even if Im in a hurry i'll take time to pick it and it belongs to no one then its mine, but if it was just accidentally drop by someone I'll give it back to him/her and be honest
1 person likes this
• Philippines
1 Apr 08
That's great Fajmarz. yes i would do the same and return to he person her/his money.
• United States
1 Apr 08
That is beautiful and I have never looked at it that way. I tend to always pick up change when I see it since I do keep all my change and save it for a rainy day but now I will actually be thinking of something very important everytime I pick up a penny. Thanks for sharing that.
• Philippines
1 Apr 08
You are most welcome nickspinky. Altough I am not living in America nor an american, I like to think all coins that way when I see one in the street and pick it up.
@itsmepinky (1300)
• India
1 Apr 08
lol..a penny for ur thoughts. a noble thought indeed. Bu then i would want god to drop some hundred dollar notes saying god bless you my child...lol
• Philippines
1 Apr 08
Yeah nice choice Itsmepinky. I would not mind a hundred dollars too!
@jmr201 (183)
• United States
1 Apr 08
Lol,thats a good one my grandma alwais told me if u see a penny on the floor head up its good luck pick it up but if its tails up walk away child it will bring bad luck lol
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
1 Apr 08
wow...very touching story! In my case, good if I will find 2 in a year! I always pick it of course..
• Philippines
1 Apr 08
It is indeed a great story. Well maybe you will find more than 2 coins this year!
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
1 Apr 08
Hello dear gabrielle. This is really a very touching story about how and why the rich man picked up the coin. His explanation is very good. Yeah, In God We Trust. In fact, I do pick up coins that I see on the ground, though not always, because sometimes I feel shy if I am with someone else. Now I think that I must make it a rule to pick it no matter what the situation is...Thanks for your nice discussion.
• Philippines
1 Apr 08
You are most welcome Williamjisir. Thats what touched me the most in the story. The explanation of the man why he picks up pennies and it also stuck into me. I was shy before also but now, I take time. And yes the message it.... lets trust God!
• United States
2 Apr 08
I would never pick up a penny in the streets
• United States
2 Apr 08
But this is a great story!
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
3 Apr 08
yes it is a wonderful email, I have seen it many times. My grandmother always said that picking up money on the street meant luck. I certainly need that luck that is for sure.
2 Apr 08
Yes everytime I see a penny I pick it up the saying goes 'see a penny pick it up give it away it brings you luck' this has happened to me on many an occassion. I really dont know where it originated from but its something that sticks in my mind. It is also said 'see a pin, pick it up if its open it will bring you good luck' and many a time i've needed a pin and I know exactly where I will find one (in my handbag) tc
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
3 Apr 08
inspirational - inspiration is such a wonderful thing
What an inspirational story!! I'm really glad you shared it with us. I pick up pennies too when I see them on the ground because like my mother says, having one penny, adding 99 cents makes a dollar. Every penny is a part of money no matter how much or low on the significance it is.
• United States
1 Apr 08
I know that I am a christian, and what I actually do is when I see a penny or any coin that is not attended on the ground, I will pick it up. See I believe that there is a blessing in everything that we do.
@buwald (271)
• Netherlands
1 Apr 08
Heh, we dont have one cent coins here in europe, but yes, i pick up money i find, even though its not much, it could mean just that little differnce ;) Speaking of messages from god: i was at the acropolis (big temple hill in athens), with a group, and when we stood in front of a temple, a key dropped from nowhere! talk about wierd...
• Philippines
1 Apr 08
Wow that's wiered but take it as a good message.
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
16 Jun 08
I always pick up pennies I see in the streets and parking lots. Some days I end up with 10 to 15 cents. I am not too proud to bend down and pick up money no matter how much it is. It is money after all, and adds up pretty quick. I mean in a month it can easily add up to 3 to 4 dollars. I am seeing more and more nickles and dimes in the streets, too, and I pick them up also. Some days I can go home with a dollar or so in my pocket, just from money I have picked up. So if I were to do that every day of the month that would be $30. Not bad money for finding it laying in the streets.
• Philippines
2 Apr 08
Beautiful story gabrielle thanks for sharing^_^
@yiijun (13)
• China
2 Apr 08
Yes, I will. because if i connodate more, it will be a great amount.
@Galena (9110)
1 Apr 08
I'll pick up any amount of currency. I can't afford not to. what happens if one day you're a penny short for your train fare? money has great value, and if just bending down and picking it up earns me a penny, that's good enough for me. I'm saving for my wedding right now, and need every penny I can get.
1 Apr 08
A lot of the places I'm usually in tend to be very busy and brimming with people, so bending down to pick up a penny on the floor is just asking to be knocked over and trampled all over. But if I see a penny and it's not hazardous to my health to pick it up, I always will. I've always believed in that little rhyme about picking up a penny and having good luck for the rest of the day.
• United States
1 Apr 08
yeah i would pick a penny up.