Pennies From Heaven

By Richard Joshua of the Hopi Pueblo Nation

I found a penny today, just lying on the ground. It’s not an ordinary penny, this coin that I found, for you see, it was a penny from Heaven. The elders of my tribe told us children that the Angels toss pennies down from Heaven to cheer us up, to make a smile out of a frown. So when you see a penny on the ground, don’t pass it by. It may be that an angel tossed you a penny from Heaven to brighten up your day.

Long ago the elders told us a story about the pioneers who came to settle these lands in the West.

There was an old woman who loved God and was very faithful to Him. Being very poor she only owned two dresses, one for church, one for every day. Yet every Sunday she put a penny in the offering. It was all she could give.

Attending the same church was a very wealthy woman who looked down her nose at the poor old lady. Her offerings were always showy and they were always large.

When the two women died, God met them at Heaven’s gate.

“Come,” He said to the poor woman. “You have loved and served me well. You have given your all and it has come from your heart.”

“But Lord,” interrupted the wealthy woman, “I have given You so much to pay my way. I should be first in Your kingdom.”

“It is true,” replied God, “that you have given much. But you did not love me or my children like this woman did. When you looked down your nose at her, you looked upon me with the same scorn. This woman sowed kindness wherever she went. Everything she did and all that she gave came from her love-filled heart.”

The elders would finish by telling us, “Don’t worry if you are poor and don’t have much to give. Whatever you give, give from your heart, just as God gave His only Son for you.”

Richard Joshua writes from Medford, Oregon.