A NICKEL ON THE SIDEWALK

God bought me a drink one day...It was long ago, during my first year of college. It was hot and I REALLY wanted a cold Dr Pepper from the catering truck that usually lurked by the Science building on the east end of the campus. 35 cents was all I needed.((these days it's more like 75 cents to a dollar!)) After methodically counting my change and digging through pockets, checking anywhere that a stray coin or two might be sequestered, it was evident that all I could come up with was 30 cents. I was standing on a wide, level concrete sidewalk. The nearest people to me were about eight feet behind me, seated on a bench, eating lunch. Having resigned myself to a thirsty afternoon and a long dry walk home, I looked up just in time to notice a brief
glimmer...and heard something hit the pavement about three feet in front of me.

It was a nickel, dropped from God's Hand into mine. (NOT an answer to prayer, a gift freely given) I quickly put it to good use and spent the remainder of the afternoon entirely amazed by His constant, gentle care for me and His precious attention to detail.

Since then, nothing will ever dissuade me of this small truth: He truly wants us to enjoy this life, to have fun wherever possible. There will ALWAYS be more than enough pain to suffer, difficulty to overcome, and work to do. These things inevitably, even constantly, find us. But happiness and fun have to be sought
out (NOT like the wholehearted pursuit of holiness that we are called to...nothing so consuming...just be willing to stoop down and pick up the nickel.) and, when found, cherished as the special gifts they are.