I saw God today in a paperclip.
No, I am not crazy, well, my kids might think I am, but I’m not, really. I do have this crazy-wonderful thing going on right now with paperclips.
It started in the summer. On my daily walks, I began to notice paperclips on the ground. I’d pick one up, put it in my pocket and continue on my way. After a few weeks, I reached into my jean pocket and was amazed that it was loaded with paperclips.
Suddenly, I was finding them all over the place—on the blacktop when I stepped out of my car, on dirt paths going to the beach, by my feet at conference in Las Vegas (where literally thousands of people had walked right over it).
What was going on?
My son finally asked me to stop gasping and pointing at paperclips on the ground every time we went anywhere because it was really freaking him out.
I told my friend, Cyndi, about this phenomenon and she said, “Usually when the universe is throwing things at you like that it means you are supposed to pay attention.”
It had my attention. But what did it MEAN?
“What does a paperclip signify to YOU?” Cyndi asked.
I thought about it. Maybe it meant that I was supposed to get organized. In my day-job, clips hold papers together in a tight, neat way. Taking it as a sign that I was not organized enough, I cleaned the house, the car, my closet, and my own stack of paperwork.
But that wasn’t the answer.
The paperclips didn’t stop appearing. Nearly every day I found one, sometimes two, all sizes and colors. They showed up on weekends, weekdays, at night, in the morning, in the pharmacy line at Rite Aid when I was getting medicine for sick kids, in the waiting room while I waited to be called in for my mammogram, on sidewalks, at the base of trees, stuck in the dirt.
My friend, Tina, read up on what paperclips signify in dreams. That was good, but I wasn’t dreaming. I was awake and in awe, but I was no closer to an answer.
Until today.
I prayed in the car this morning asking for strength. I was driving to a big work meeting in which I had to present bad news, difficult information, and be prepared for any questions that the thirty people in the group might ask of me. Moments before the meeting began (warning: a TMI statement is coming, so if you are at all a bit squeamish you might want to cover your ears and hum for the next bit) I realized my p-e-r-i-o-d had arrived early. Dear God, I wasn’t prepared for this! What a time for it. I raced out of the room to take care of matters.
You can stop humming now because this part is important.
What did I see on the ramp to the portable-potty? You guessed it, a shiny, warm from the sun, paperclip. I carried it in my hand and placed it on the table in front of me as the meeting began. It was a tough one, but I was prepared and all went well.
In the car on the way home, I used my author techniques to brainstorm ideas about the paperclip. What does it look like? It flows in a circular design like the infinity sign—never-ending. It is shiny (if metallic) or colorful and bright. What does it do? It holds things together and doesn’t let go.
Here comes the epiphany…The paperclips aren’t from some wacky accountants who just happen to be ten feet ahead of me dropping paperclips everywhere I go. No.
They are from God.
When I walk, I pray. I tell God how beautiful the trees are, the sky, the hills…I thank him for the day, the sun on my back, the cool air on my face… Basically, we chat (silently and all one-sided on my part). I know He’s there, but maybe, He wanted to give me a little something to carry with me as I walk with Him. A love token to keep in my hand, or my pocket, that flows in a never-ending design (like infinity). It’s a shiny and/or colorful token, so that I don’t miss it on the ground. And it fits neatly in my hand.
When I was having my freak-out this morning about the meeting, He threw another sparkly warm sign at my feet to remind me that He is always there. Holding me together. Loving me forever.
And if I had any doubts about His message, they went away once I turned on the car radio. The DJ played George Straight’s beautiful song, “I Saw God Today.” The message was loud and clear.
Mr. Straight tells us that God’s fingerprints are everywhere. Perhaps, we need to look a little harder to see them.
Have you had any signs lately?
Kimberley Troutte 
I am totally impressed! What a wonderful and personal message. It is what the clips mean to you and they hold a better story than many of us would have been able to interpret. I am happy for you, envious of you, and am going to learn from you. I'm looking for my own messages now piggybacking on your faith. Thank you, Kim, for opening my eyes.
May you find many beautiful, personal, loving messages. Thanks for all your help, Cyn. You're the best!
You're an inspiration to us all.
There are times I'd like to have a sign as intriguing as your paperclip. For me, it's been one word that wraps around my brain. Trust. Okay, sometimes it's a whisper and sometimes it's in a song or a phrase, a single word, and when I'm really dense, I swear my ears are ringing with the word. Trust. For me, that can be a daunting challenge.
I realize the importance of being in the right place at the right time to receive God's blessings. It's an important part of my daily prayers. However, recently -after reading your post- I realized there was a very important aspect that I'd been missing. I might be at the right place physically, but it is also important to be in the right place emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Giving thanks puts us where we need to be.
And I give thanks that you are here to remind me to be grateful for all the blessings in my life, no matter how big or how small. And yes, I am trusting that all is well.
~Hugs~
Ah, C.C, I think you hit the nail on the head. Being in the right place to receive what you need may be what you need the most.
Trust can be a scary concept. We want to fix things, force outselves through the brambles, race forward into the light. But sometimes, we simply can't. Those brambles are to thick, too strong. We're caught in a place with seemingly no way out.
You have been given a powerful word–trust.
Dare to believe it. Let go and trust that God will catch you. The light is just around the corner.
I too trust that all will be well.
hugs back at ya!
Hi,just finished reading your article on “finding paper clips everywhere”. Same thing has been happening to me,just today I was @my future daughter -in-laws,outside when I picked up a Blue paperclip again. I commented on finding them all the time & my research lead me to your article.Thank You very much.
Glad I could offer some help, bellabuddy.
Hi Kimberley,
I ironically have had the same thing happen to me. I have had paper clips show up in the oddest of places and some not so odd but in such a way that I cannot excuse it as a “normal” thing. There have been so many and I too have been wondering exactly what they mean and what God may be trying to show me. I also have thought about the paper clip and its shape and what it is used for and all I can come up with is that it is used to hold things together and maybe that is what God is trying to say to me. Maybe I am the person to hold our family or people together. I don't really know but I do find it strange that I am always finding paperclips everywhere I turn. I can only hope that one day I will know the true meaning.
I am so glad I found this site and to know that there is someone else that has had the same thing happen to them. Makes me not feel so crazy.
Thanks for posting.
Well wishes,
Denise
Beautiful article and I'm glad I found it! I started finding dimes everywhere, I just went to my bacherlette party in Leavenworth and happened to walk into a bar with a dime sitting right on the table we all agreed to sit at. It's been a few months but now I have noticed paperclips! I have found 3 in the last week. I have Googled the dimes and the meaning behind finding them and that was a sign from a loved one watching over you. So now I googled finding paperclips and i found your article! I think that it still is a sign from a loved one watching over us. Such a special thing we share and how lucky are we to have those people watching over us!
Beautiful article and I'm glad I found it! I started finding dimes everywhere, I just went to my bacherlette party in Leavenworth and happened to walk into a bar with a dime sitting right on the table we all agreed to sit at. It's been a few months but now I have noticed paperclips! I have found 3 in the last week. I have Googled the dimes and the meaning behind finding them and that was a sign from a loved one watching over you. So now I googled finding paperclips and i found your article! I think that it still is a sign from a loved one watching over us. Such a special thing we share and how lucky are we to have those people watching over us!
I have been finding paperclips also…I knew it was a message from either God or a loved one who has passed. I receive messages and signs all the time but the paperclips had me baffled..I decide to look into it further tonight and found your article. Thank you
Thank You for the Great Message! Same thing has been happening with me. My 5 month old granddaughter had Open Heart Surgery on Wed.Sept.21,2016,was very worried prior & after the surgery. Tues. I started finding paper clips again & every day since I still find @ least 1 every day. This had occurred previously in stressful times & I would say to my children,it must be a sign from God,not sure what they made of my explanation but as back then & now I truly believe in the great meaning of finding them.I had to choke down tears the day we were leaving the hospital,as my daughter & I were going down the stairs I found another big yellow paper clip on one of the stairs & have found them since. How amazing is this !!
This article is so sweet! I have been finding paperclips EVERYwhere for about 4 months now. It will trail off for a while & now I get a premonition of when I will find the next one. They really started to freak me out! Always finding them before/after a emotional event with a loved one- when I have to help them hold things together- sometimes issues with their health. This started for me the day after I saw a YouTube video about perspective and a paperclip. A little girl was happy to receive a paperclip and grateful. So I help my loved ones see their tricky health situations from a positive perspective. I do think it could be a sign from God or any of his many angels; Watching over me, telling me everything will be alright. Helping me hold things together when sometimes I don't think I can muster the courage. Thanks for sharing!
Wooow wow!! Same here! I have also seen many paperclips everywhere and also saw that video of the little girl❤️