What a Jar of Pennies Taught Me About Hope

Not long ago, I came across a child’s lost penny jar in my apartment complex’s parking lot. I left it there, thinking its owner would miss it, and come to collect it. However, before this could happen, the penny jar was smashed by a careless driver’s vehicle, its pennies scattered across the parking lot, mingled with shattered glass — and lost to its owner for good.

This inspired me to think: What should you do when someone loses their (hope) pennies?

I did nothing, thinking the situation would resolve itself, but it didn’t. If I had picked up that penny jar, I could’ve restored it to its owner, a small treasure and the small hopes that accompanied it. If you see someone who has lost their pennies, will you stop and pick them up and return them to the one who lost them?

If you do, you may restore some degree of hope for them, not only in themselves, but the rest of humanity as well. And that’s a thing we should all do when the need arises — because restored hope is a wonderful gift to give to someone who really needs it.

And that’s a good thing to do.