Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Tanner (04/03/25)
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TITLE: Sixpence and Sensibility | Previous Challenge Entry
By Corinne Smelker
04/07/25 -
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The tanner, though out of circulation since 1980, was more than just a coin to Tanner. It was a reminder to trust God and give generously, no matter how small the offering. Tanner carried it in his pocket every day, knowing that it kept his heart humble and his priorities straight.
One chilly autumn morning, Tanner reached into his pocket to check for his tanner, as he always did—and it wasn’t there. His heart skipped a beat. The small silver coin was gone.
He checked his other pockets, retraced his steps around the garden, and even looked behind the kitchen counter. Nothing. Panic started to rise, but Tanner stopped himself. "Remember what Father always said," he muttered. "It’s not the coin that matters."
Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling of loss. His father had given him that coin with the belief that it would guide him through life’s struggles, but now… now it was gone.
After some time, he decided to go to the local shop, hoping he’d dropped it there. Mr. Hodge, the shopkeeper, greeted him with a raised eyebrow.
“Morning, Tanner. What brings you by?”
“I’ve lost my tanner,” Tanner replied. “I thought I might’ve dropped it here.”
Mr. Hodge scratched his chin. “A tanner, eh? Haven’t heard that word in years. You know, Tanner, what’s lost is often found when we stop searching so hard for it.”
Tanner gave a nervous smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
As he walked out of the shop, he pondered Mr. Hodge’s words. Was he making too much of this coin? Had it become more important than it needed to be?
Later that day, as Tanner walked through the park, he saw a group of children gathered around the fountain. At the center of the group was young Tommy Jenkins, his bike propped up next to him as he chattered with his friends.
“Mr. Tanner!” Tommy called out. “I think I found something of yours!”
Tommy reached into his pocket and pulled out the gleaming tanner. “I found this by the swings yesterday. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I thought it might belong to you.”
Tanner felt a wave of relief and gratitude. “Thank you, Tommy. You have no idea how much this means.”
Tommy smiled, hopped on his bike, and zoomed off. Tanner stood for a moment, holding the coin, feeling as though something had shifted inside him. It wasn’t just a coin anymore—it was a reminder of God’s faithfulness, even when he thought he’d lost everything.
That evening, Tanner knelt beside his bed and prayed. “Lord, thank You for bringing the tanner back to me. But more than that, thank You for reminding me that You are my true provider. My worth isn’t in the things I hold but in You.”
As he stood to head to bed, Tanner felt a peace he hadn’t known before. The tanner was back in his pocket, but now, it wasn’t as important as the lessons he had learned.
The next time something went missing, Tanner decided, he would focus more on trusting God than on finding the thing he’d lost. After all, as his father had said, it wasn’t the tanner that mattered—it was what he did with what he had.
And with that, Tanner went to bed, a little lighter in heart, ready for whatever the next day might bring.
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This was beautiful writing.
God Bless~