The Penny Dropped

From around 1890 penny-in-the-slot machines were used to sell postcards, chocolate, cigarettes, domestic gas… A penny’s inserted, the penny drops, the goods are supplied…

The phrase ‘The penny dropped’ indicates that someone has finally understood or realised something.

Last night son-in-law-Allan and I were enjoying a quiet drink, talking about family, friends, his work, the usual stuff. On the opposite side of the pub we noticed Jill. I know Jill through church; Allan and daughter-Jo know Jill through different connections.

Jill walked past and we got into conversation. Jill said, ‘How do you two know each other?’ She knew Rachel and me; she knew Jo and Allan. She hadn’t realised that we were Jo’s parents. The penny dropped.

Yesterday a local primary school held their carol service at our church. Church was full of children and parents. My friend Keith and I provided musical accompaniment to carols that were sang with enthusiasm.

A group of children read the well-known poem: Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…

Apparently it was first published 1823… a lot of the traditions of Father Christmas, presents, chimneys, reindeer and sleighs, are credited to that poem.

Another group of children read pieces that they’d written, entitled ‘What Christmas means to me’. Accounts of presents, games, food and families demonstrated a good job done by teachers and children.

As well as the carol service, the school celebrates Christmas well with pantomime visits, cinema trips to see ‘Paddington in Peru’, Christmas Bingo, parties…

A penny dropped in my head… For many people Jesus, carols and church are just another part of traditional Christmas, alongside pantomime, trees, reindeer, turkey, Paddington and Santa.

I re-read the Christmas story… Mary’s seen an angel, become pregnant, travelled to Bethlehem, had a baby, encountered shepherds… then ‘Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.’ Perhaps from all the activity the penny was starting to drop and she was starting to understand…