Whenever I find a random coin outdoors, I've learned to accept it as an angel message that everything is in divine order.
It happened this morning as we were leaving Dollar General having bought two little red cardinal bird ornaments for the garden. A shiny nickel caught my eye as I stepped out the door. To find a Jefferson nickle on July 4th seemed significant, especially since I've never found a five-cent piece before; many copper pennies, and a half-dozen dimes, but not one nickle.
I picked up the 1991 shiny coin. It had Thomas Jefferson on the front, and his home, Monticello, on the back. And, I remembered I'd said a special prayer of thanks to our Founding Fathers early this morning.
Looking at the coin, I recalled two of our Nation's Presidents, Adams and Jefferson who both helped write the Declaration of Independence had died on July 4th, 1826. The day of the Jubilee--the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. It was somewhat eerie that Thomas Jefferson died shortly after noon at the age of 83 in Monticello, Virginia. Several hours later, John Adams died in Quincy, Massachusetts at age 90. Though the second and third Presidents were friends at the time of their passing, they had been politically estranged for 11 years, and returned home on the same day.
Today I learned another president had also died on Independence Day. The 5th U.S. President, James Monroe, died on July 4, 1831, at the age of 73. Just as Providence delivered these early influential leaders to birth our nation, divine timing called them home on an auspicious date, Independence Day. God is.
As the day continued, it did my heart good to happen upon a joyful celebration of July 4th. A large pool of bubbly suds. Continuous bubbles pumped through the air, spewing from two dynamic bubblers to the beat of firework music. Their joy was contagious. I stopped to freeze this moment in my memory bank. Kids of all ages, frolicking in fun and laughter, enjoying life, simple and free to be. We all need times like this to let go. Be like a little child...to burst out and have spontaneous fun.
And walking away, feeling lighter, a bubble sailed towards me and splashed down on my shirt! A bubble of joy! Thank you, angels...for all the joy you bring by helping us listen and go with the flow. Freedom is a precious gift, not to be taken for granted.
Happy Fourth of July!
Love and peace,
Rae Karen