Recently, the U.S. Mint announced it will stop producing new pennies because they cost more to make than they are worth. I admit it makes sense. Why spend two cents to make something worth only one?
But here’s a penny for your thoughts: for too long our society has treated the unborn as too expensive, not worth the effort, and something to be disregarded.
The penny is the smallest coin in our currency system. People leave them behind at counters, toss them into jars, or ignore them altogether. Yet, pennies add up. A jar of pennies can turn into dollars, and dollars can make a difference. The truth is, even the smallest matters when it’s part of something bigger.
In a culture that prizes convenience and efficiency, some argue that bringing a child into the world is “too expensive,” either financially or emotionally, or they simply argue, “I don’t have time”. The reasoning sounds eerily like the penny debate: if the cost outweighs the perceived value, why keep it?
But here’s the problem. Value isn’t measured solely by cost. Value is intrinsic, especially when value is endowed to all of us by our Creator. A penny may be worth only one cent, but it still carries value. How much more, then, for human life, no matter how small?
There is another lesson from our plucky pal the penny: every little bit helps. We know that small contributions, whether saving coins or offering support, can lead to big outcomes. This same principle applies to protecting life. A kind word to a struggling mother, a donation to a pregnancy care center, or simply speaking up for the voiceless, helps. Small acts may seem insignificant, but together they create a culture that values life. No effort is too small, and every life is immensely valuable.
So, as pennies stop getting minted, let’s not phase out the principle they represent. If we can see worth in the smallest coin, how much more should we see worth in the smallest human? The question is not whether life is costly; it is whether we recognize that its value is beyond price.
Every life matters. Every effort counts. And just like pennies, the smallest things can make the biggest difference.