Pennies From Heaven

The LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.
Deuteronomy 2:7

These pennies were crushed on a railroad track by a train. The kids think of their Papaw when they see them. He worked for Frisco railroad as a switchman for 28 years. They are a memo to them. They like him are simple things that look like nothing to anyone else. But in their eyes they are connection to the past they will forever cherish. Like the pennies he was simple but resilient growing up.

Dad grew up during The Great Depression and wore charity clothes to school. Mismatched shoes and stuff was the order of things. And as cruel as children can be over someone different, they were relentless in their taunting of him. Sometimes even older adults respond in kind. The teacher would call him dumb and tell him he would never amount to anything in front of the class. Degrading him in an already difficult time and childhood. His mother and his God his only comfort in a cold, cruel world growing up.

Would this shake your faith? Would this affect who you become? What you believe? How you look at the world? Would you rise to the occasion or sink into self-fulfilling prophecy?

This was part of his growing up with just pennies being tossed to him through charity. The kindness of strangers discarding what they had no need of anymore. Not giving their best but scraps from the table. Mocking by those who gave charity when they see them on the streets.
God sees the heart of man not the outward appearance. Saul was considered a man's man. Towering head and shoulders above everyone the bible said. A formidable man in physical appearance and fit by human eyes to be king. God saw his heart and chose a more humble man David who was of all accounts shorter than Saul. Not very impressive but oh, what God did through that little man. He conquered a giant, brought down mighty armies, and through his lineage brought forth God's royal Son to us.

My father may have grew up of modest means and may not have been famous and well known, but he was loved and returned that love to others. When others hurt, he hurt very much. Tell me is that not a very, very rare quality in such a world as this.

My father always said,"Whenever you meet someone give them a smile. For you don't know what that other person is going through. You might be able to make their day and help them with a simple little gesture." He could talk to the richest man or poorest man regardless of they're stature in life. So if you take nothing away from this but one thing, remember The Golden Rule,"Do Unto Others, As You Would Have Done Unto You." Do this and you will be the richest person in the world. For pennies from heaven you see are little bits of wisdom that is worth more than any rich man's gold. For the rich are heading away from their riches with every fleeting heartbeat in this life. The poor are racing toward theirs in heaven with every breath.
by
Lance Gargus