THE RUNT

As he was driving the last nail into the  post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down  into the eyes of a little boy.

"Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of  your puppies."

"Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck,
"These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."

The boy dropped his head for a moment.  Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer.

"I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?" "Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle "Here, Dolly!" he called. 

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.

The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight.

As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed  something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. 

Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up....
 
"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.

The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. 

In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."
 
 

The Penny

-- Author Unknown
 
 

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 water-way, 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 generous as a 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 causally mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been valuable. 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 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?" "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 in 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 plentiful!

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk.

  I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I can not change.

 I read the words, "In God We Trust," and had to laugh.  Yes, God, I get the message. 

It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! 

And God is patient.