As he approached his late 80’s, my father-in-law would be in a garden before sunrise, digging dirt and preparing for another day of labor that would end at sunset. This was after he endured an intense hour-long workout on a Nordic Track. When he slowed down slightly in retirement, he joked that he “wasn’t worth a plug nickel."
The plug nickel originated from the process of removing precious metal from a coin, which reduced its value while maintaining its appearance. Over time, the phrase became figurative, meaning something or someone is insignificant.
My father-in-law’s life told a different story. He grew up on a farm, growing watermelons and cropping tobacco, often working 12 to 15-hour days. Later, as the head of all the Roads and Grounds for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center, he could skillfully operate various equipment, from bulldozers and skid steers to excavators and cranes. Skills that are not insignificant.
How often do we overlook the significance of small things—a quiet moment of reflection, an encouraging word, or a supposedly unimportant decision? Yet, these moments can hold enormous meaning, especially when it affects those whose lives we impact. They remind us to shift our perspective to recognize the hidden value in seemingly inconsequential things.
Think about the last time you dismissed something—or someone—as insignificant. At work, that quick email you ignore or that intern you barely acknowledge might be the key to your next opportunity. A minor adjustment in a golf swing (mine are major) can be the difference between hitting your next shot from the fairway or hacking out of the rough. Tucking your child in at night after a bedtime story and participating in school projects may seem routine and burdensome, yet they will likely be the memories that matter most. Throughout Scripture, God often uses those deemed ‘worthless’ to accomplish great things. Why? Because He sees value in everyone.
This week, take a moment to notice the unnoticed. Look beneath the surface before dismissing something or someone as unimportant. Be on the lookout for ignored opportunities. Make minor adjustments. Cherish the ordinary moments with your children. Seek to serve and uplift those who feel undervalued. Consider what you take for granted as you look through an attentive lens. What you see as a plug nickel today might be something exceptional tomorrow.
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