value

I was walking down the street when a man asked for spare change.  It's mostly true when I say, "Sorry, I don't have any on me."  He replied with, "Even a penny?  That's all I need to change my luck."

I yelled over my shoulder, "Really, a penny?" then proceeded to cross the street.

So a penny, huh?  This struck me as odd only because he said, "...that's all I need to change my luck."

I slowed down after I turned the corner and actually checked my purse to see if I had any change.  Well...I found a penny.

I walked back to him and asked, "So you really think a penny will change things for you?"  He replied, "Well yeah.  It's more than nothing, and I've been here since yesterday."

So I gave him a penny.  He smiled and said, "Thank you!"

I followed it up with a little more money...and said I would say a prayer for him.  I don't think he heard that second part because he just smiled and said, "See!  My luck has changed already!"

I just smiled at him then walked away.

I can't explain it, but I really think his luck changed today.  I prayed that God would make that happen for him in some way.  I pray that things are made right for that man, so he won't have to beg for pennies on the street anymore.

Yesterday, during the Good Friday Stations of the cross, our prayer leader said something that stuck with me.  As the people along the path to his crucifixion were there to minister to Jesus, He was also ministering to them along the way.  He never stopped, no matter how much pain and suffering He was in.  He continued to minister to others to His death.

I felt that even though I ministered to this man in a small way, he actually taught me something too.  He ministered to me.  He gave me hope that sometimes we just need a penny in life to know that our luck will change.  When things are tough, we only need to see that small cent to know bigger and greater things to come.

To me, a penny may be worthless.  To another, it's hope.

I'll be sure not to overlook the value of a cent anymore :)