Recently I shared on Google plus: You don't have to be a girly girl to love shoes. Heck, you don't even have to be a girl in order to have a favorite pair of footwear! "But what if our 'shoes' represented different roles that we play in life? The shoes may look and fit differently depending on the role you play." So what shoes are YOU wearing and how do you feel about it? Comment below so we'll learn and grow together to appreciate where we're at, where we have been, and where we are going.
Where I've Been
Growing up I didn't always care enough to be wise in my choice of footwear. I made sure to wear weather-appropriate shoes most of the time but I figured they could handle whatever I chose to do in them. I remember being pregnant with Victoria and going on a longer-than-expected walk with my husband to pick up a treat while we waited for the car to be repaired. I broke my favorite flip flops to pieces but still managed to have a decent attitude and keep my complaining to a minimum. They tried their best to do a task they were not prepared for. I'm still learning that lesson; like those shoes, there are times when I need to remember to be wise in my diligence and to not run faster than I have strength.
Where I'm At
Ever since moving to Illinois I have been pretty faithful about wearing shoes to protect and support my feet, because I have plantar fasciitis. The muscles on the arches of my feet don't entirely behave as they ought to and so sometimes things like walking get quite difficult. So I've gotten pickier about the shoes I wear. Maybe that is in part why the video which inspired this post struck a chord with me tonight.
I value functionality and beauty as deciding factors in many things, and shoes are no exception. But taking this metaphor to heart, I began to learn things about myself and the roles my Lord God has given me. I'm one of those girls who grew up wanting to be a wife and a mother: in my mind it was and is the ultimate career for me and I didn't need or want anything else. I also try to look outside myself and find those in need whom the Lord would have me help. For these reasons my default pair of shoes have been the comfy tennie runners I'm wearing right now. They aren't so beat up as to be ashamed of...most of the time. Like my house, I try to keep them clean but they're okay if they get a little dirty. And like me, they can do some pretty extraordinary things while appearing to many as humble, ordinary, and to a rare few even pitiful.
Where I Am Going
Tomorrow [now actually today as this post has taken a couple days to write] I get to go to the Holy Temple of God and worship there. I served in many ways--expected and otherwise--and learned of God's ways once again. There were a few moments where I felt and knew that I was being the Lord's hands. I know He has a plan for me as He does for all of His children. I am reminded of the scripture: "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet. For the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." My prayer is that by what I do and what I say, I make holy places, that I may stand in whatever shoes I'm wearing with the utmost assurance that I am doing and being what God wants.
