Well, you know me and my connection with "pennies from Heaven."

I usually teach on Tuesdays, but I am home today because Olivia is sick and didn't go to school.  I thought this would be a great morning to get some little odds and ends taken care of around the house, and then I received word from the high school that Todd needed a schedule signed by third period.  I got ready quickly and headed up to the high school leaving Olivia asleep on the couch (Tim was here getting some papers together for school.)

When I arrived at the high school, I had to circle around twice to find a parking spot and then ran in to sign Todd's paper.  After getting my signature, Todd turned around and headed back into the hall.  No "thank you, mom."  Nothing.   I leaned down to the window of the secretary (whose son I had in school several years ago) and said, "Don't you just love when your kids say 'thank you' errrrrrrrrrrrrrr?"  I always feel a little sense of failure when one of my kids is unappreciative.  I want them to be kids full of gratitude even for the simple acts of kindness people do for them.

Nick was just one of those kids that said "thank you" for the littlest things, and I miss that thankful spirit daily.

Anyway, as I walked out the door of the school and headed in the direction of the only parking spot I had been  able to find available, there it was!  A sweet little penny laying delicately in the crack of the pavement right in front of my foot!!!!!!!!!!!!  I picked it up and couldn't believe it when it was a 1993!!  The year Todd was born!!!  If I had parked anywhere else, I never would have seen it!

I felt like Nick had asked an angel to slip it there simply to remind me that Todd was thankful even though he didn't express it verbally.

I smiled the whole way home, holding the penny and feeling extra close to Heaven.

Then my phone buzzed with a message on Facebook from a friend who I met a few years ago whose son also passed away at a young age.  She was commenting on Nick's tombstone with a list of words that she felt described Nick and was apologizing for being a day late in replying...but that is just how God works, isn't it?  I needed her message today not yesterday, because her message said this, "Every time I think of Nick, I think of the song "Pennies from Heaven.  Nick is a penny from Heaven..special and one of a kind!" (I just noticed that she left the same message this morning in the comments on my blog post from yesterday too!) Wow!  There I sat in my driveway holding this newly found 1993 penny and reading her message.

God's presence surrounded me in a mighty way in that moment.  KLove was playing in the background, and I felt as if God had sent a symphony to serenade me with His love.  I guess the wedding pictures can wait until tomorrow!!!  I had to share this today.

Thank you, Lord, for pennies.  The least valuable coin in the world's eyes has become a treasure in mine.  But isn't that how You work?  Your thoughts are so different than man's thoughts..  Just thinking of the mysteries of Your plans reminds me of the beatitudes.

Matthew 5:1-12

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
      for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
      for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
      for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
      for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
      for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
      for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Lord, help me to see all of my pain and sadness through your eyes so that I can see the rainbow in the storm.  Teach me to trust that "those who mourn will be comforted."   Thank you for choosing to use pennies to be my source of comfort.  In Your Son's Name, Amen

Praying that your day will be filled with sweet messages from God too,