See a Penny… Pick it Up

Magic can happen anywhere. My mother found this out recently. Facing surgery in a few days, she needed a distraction and decided to go shopping in a local clothing store. She strolled around for a while but nothing caught her eye. As she was leaving,, an older woman who was also heading for the door, pointed to a brown coin on the ground. “A lucky penny! Pick it up! It’ll bring you good luck!” 

My mom looked down. Sure enough, a plain, old penny lay there. “You saw it first. Don’t you want luck?” asked Mom. 

“No, that’s your lucky penny, but it’s on tails. It should be on heads.” The woman stooped and flipped over the coin, and then stood, satisfied. “Now you can take it.”

Not quite understanding the urgency, but touched by the woman’s kindness, my mother picked up the coin. She held the plain brown penny a few seconds, and then slipped it into her purse. 

Mom walked to her car thinking how the news is full of terrible things people do to each other. Yet here was this woman, a stranger, attuned to her fellow humans and their need for good fortune. 

A few days later, Mom had her surgery and to her relief, all went well. There was no need for any follow up, something she had feared. In her 80’s, she was grateful for that bit of good luck.

Of course, we’ll never know if the penny played any part in all this. But it doesn’t matter. That stranger’s generosity and kindness in giving Mon confidence was magical. The woman could’ve said nothing and kept that ‘lucky’ coin for herself. Instead, she chose to pass it along. Maybe she sensed Mom needed a little nudge with the fates that day. 

Then again…I can’t help wondering if my late father had something to do with it. Maybe this was his way of communicating to my mother: “You’ll be fine, Marilyn. Try not to worry”, he would’ve said, if alive. It did seem strange how this woman came out of nowhere to assure my mother–luck was on her side. 

I’ve heard moments like these are called ‘angel bumps,’ little messages from the world beyond. I love that term and it always gives me hope.  

That penny now sits on a small green dish on Mom’s bureau, always turned to heads. 

 

Have you had ‘magical’ encounters out of the blue? Comments are always welcome. If you’d like to receive posts by email, just press here. Thank you!