Pennies & Paperclips

"...what will ye that I should prepare for you

that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?"

I used to think I was crazy. Some people might still consider me crazy. I collect paperclips. I also collect screws, washers, bolts, clothes pins, safety pins, coins, and occasionally, magnets. I keep my entire collection in a coin purse that I take with me wherever I go. That's the less crazy part. The more crazy part is that ever since I began my collection I have been convinced that each penny or paperclip I find is lucky. Take for example the paperclip I found on my way to my first Biology exam, and the fact that I got a 98% on that exam. Or the day I found and collected my first washer and had the happiest day ever because I couldn't stop smiling about how crazy I was for collecting washers. And so I continue believing that every small, shiny object I find on the ground is lucky, and no matter how rusty or dirt crusted it is, I pick it up.

Which takes us to Wednesday this week. It was a special Wednesday. My first day driving to school since I broke my ankle. And it wasn't really scary, or painful, or even really stressful, but I did arrive at the parking lot a little late, parked a little far away from the school, and wondered how long it would take me to trek to my class on The Devil. I'd just finished unloading The Devil from the trunk and rolled him to the passenger side door to grab my backpack, when I looked down and saw a penny on the ground. Of course I knew it was a lucky penny and I started smiling while I thought about all the lucky things that might happen that day. I grabbed my backpack and picked up the penny and then heard a voice behind me. It said, "This might be a random question, but would you like a ride down to the school?" I turned around and discovered that the voice belonged to a sweet looking girl who had just parked her car across from me. She continued, "I know what it's like to have a broken leg and it's a long way down to the school." I smiled, glanced down at the penny in my hand, and told her I would very much like a ride. Thank you, Allie, for proving that it was a lucky penny.

Two days later, it's Friday, and I'm journeying back to the parking lot after school. The way back is all uphill, a gentle slope covered in wood chips and weeds that The Devil is very fond of. And it was one-o-clock in the afternoon on a very sunny summer day. I had almost made it to the parking lot, almost completed my uphill journey when a car pulled over, the window rolled down, and another sweet voice said, "Do you need a ride?" This time I knew I was close to the end so I thanked her but said I would keep rolling. We said goodbye and I finished my trek up the hill. As I entered the parking lot I looked down and to my right and saw -- a penny. And this one was just as lucky as the rest.

So Esther, what is the point? Why are you talking about paperclips?

I really did think I was crazy about believing in lucky paperclips until I read the scripture at the beginning. Jesus Christ is asking this question. He's asking you what you want Him to do - to show you that He loves you, that He's there, that you're never alone. He's asking what you want Him to do at random moments to remind you of those things. And I love that He's asking. 

What means 'I love you' in your life? For my mom, it's rainbows. For me, it's pennies and paperclips. My collection isn't worth anything, but I treasure it because every single thing inside my coin purse is a promise that I'm loved, that I'm treasured, that I'm important. On hard days it's right there for me to take out and look at all the "luck" I've been blessed with. But what I really feel is all the love I've been given.

So what is it for you? What gives you hope and light in the depths of the sea? The beauty of this promise is that you get to choose. I suspect it looks different for each of us, but over time every little moment builds up to a constant reminder that you are incredibly important to Jesus Christ. And there isn't anything He wouldn't do to show you that He loves you.

Scripture Reference - Ether 2:25