The day started in a full sprint as I did drop offs, tackled some online work, taught a science lesson to a few groups of sweet littles, then off to another appointment before picking up my daughter from school.
In between teaching and my last appointment, I went through Starbys for a quick bite (#eggandcheddarproteinbox for the win!!). I pulled up to the window and handed the gal a twenty, then waited for my change. As the gal at the window leaned forward to hand me the bills & coins, a coworker distracted her; she turned to look behind her as she dropped the money in my hand. Consequently, a dime fell to the ground.
I heard the tiny little *tink* of the dime as it hit the ground, then peered over the edge of my door at the distance between my car and the outside counter, wondering if I should try to open my door and retrieve the coin.
Okay, yes. It was a dime.
Ten cents.
Yet, I pondered the effort vs the loss.
Finally, as the girl handed me my lunch, I told myself, “Leisa. It’s a dime! Forget about it!”
I drove away, leaving that shiny little coin behind for another to find.
But… I lamented it.
I thought about that dime for a few minutes more… I know, I know… it’s only 10¢. But 10¢ is part of a dollar and a dollar is part of ten and…
I do not take for granted the value of a dollar…or 1/10th of one. There have been too many times in previous years when I wasn’t sure all of my family’s needs would be met.
We like to be certain! We like to be prepared. We like to know that each day will bring with it, all that we need to live and thrive…at least, I do.
As a result of various circumstances, through quite a few seasons actually, I have a tendency to want to be prepared so that I need not wonder if our needs will be met. Even still, there were times when I was uncertain we would make it.
But we did.
God always provided for myself and my girls. And now my mom as well.
And yet, as I drove along, I found myself still thinking about that dime!
Maybe I should have made the effort…
Would I have looked dumb opening up my door to try and reach for the little coin?
Then God whispered to my heart, “…pause and recall aaall the times I not only provided for you, but went exceedingly above and beyond all you could ask or imagine.
I am here.
I am at work.
I go before you.
I will provide. “
And so I let go of the dime.
Fast forward a couple of hours; I was walking in a parking lot, looking at Christmas decorations and the beautiful sky and the palm trees…when I felt compelled to stop looking up, and take a moment to look down.
There, at my feet, was a shiny little dime.
I don’t believe in coincidence 🙂 I felt it was a God wink – one to remind and affirm that, indeed, God is present and cares about even the tiniest of details. He is watching out for my girls, my mom and I. He is at work and will go before us as He always has, to plan, protect and provide.
I picked up that dime with a smile and, admittedly, a happy tear in my eye.
That dime did not change my status, nor was it exactly what I needed for anything in particular. The loss of the dime at the drive thru was a trigger for old fears…fears long since passed, which need not be considered any longer, but exactly what the enemy uses to take my focus off the goodness and greatness of the Lord…even if just for a moment.
If you allow an old fear to be whispered into your mind, your focus is shifted from all that is before you and good. If you are consumed with fears of what might be, you are clouding your vision for the beautiful truths of what is.
God is good.
He is present.
He is at work…ALL of the time.
Since that day, I have come across two more dimes.
One, in my shoe! How in the world does a dime end up in one’s shoe?
And another in a crevice of my car as I was looking for a penny to give exact change; you can tell me it’s a stretch, but the fact that all I needed was a penny, yet came across a dime, is exactly an example of how God works. You think you need ‘juuuust this’. But God sees above and beyond. He knows the path before you and all that you will need, and even desire! He goes above and beyond all that we can think or imagine, even if we don’t realize it in the moment.
Keep your eyes open to the dimes in your day. Those little affirmations and reminders that you are seen and known and loved and cared for, will buoy your spirit and encourage your heart!
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