While on a visit with my grand kids a winter or two ago, my daughter-in-love, Melissa, and I decided to take the tots outside for some fresh air and some good old “energy burning” time. As usual we went out the kitchen door to the garage landing. We all grabbed our jackets and slipped into our shoes. A quick trot down to the bottom of the wooden stairs would land us right at the opening of the garage door. The kids knew the drill and went directly to their toy of choice and before we knew it the sounds of plastic wheels rolling over the cement floor reverberated to the outdoors. Metal shovels scraped along the driveway as the children pushed back some of the last remaining spots of snow.
Now, just as kids are drawn to the sounds of laughter from a nearby park or carnival, so too did the rumbling of toys and kids at play draw the girls from across the street. The breeze was cool so the baby and I settled down in a sunny spot for warmth. As Sawyer slept in my arms I was content to watch and listen as the now two moms stood in the drive gabbing and supervising while the four children darted here-there-and-everywhere with the periodic banding together as a team to make circles around the two. Abby, who was a little older, came over to keep me company and share with me her secrets of riding, stopping, and doing some pretty nifty tricks on the prided scooter she had with her. I made mental notes.
After about an hour or so, as time and energy started to wind-down, I joined my then - three year old grandson Troy -under the nearby tree and listened as he eagerly apprised me on how to properly shovel dirt (this was proving to be quite an educational day for me). With all confidence, his child size shovel in hand, he looked up at me and said, “You have to push the shovel like this nonni.” He then, with all his might, dug into the hard ground to fill the little red blade. Once the blade was full he lifted it with a grunt and said, “And then you just pick it uuupah like this, and throw it! Like that!”
Although impressed I still had to chuckle. After skillfully instructing me on the how-to of shoveling dirt, Troy was now standing before me with a look of shear accomplishment. He had his esteemed tool in hand and, from what I could tell, he was ready to take on the world! It was then that I noticed his blue Vans were on the wrong feet! He’s three years old. He’s as proud as can be - AND - he is totally unaware that his shoes are on wrong.
I wonder how many times I’ve had my shoes on wrong.
I wonder how many times I’ve had on the wrong shoes!
I do know this.
When I run, I’d better have on my running shoes. Putting them on the right feet is beneficial too.
When I go into a river full of rocks, it’s wise to slip into a pair of river shoes.
When I hike, nothing works better than a pair of hiking boots.
I love wearing my every day pair of sneakers for running around and getting errands done, but I’ve got to tell you they clash like crazy with the black velvet dress I bought for a wedding. I opted, rather, for a sharp pair of black, low-heeled sling-backs.
I also know that I have, on more than one occasion, forced my feet into shoes that were too small. And I have endured shoes that were too big. I gained nothing but blisters from these decisions.
This whole shoe thing, it really got me to thinking …
How many times have I had on the wrong shoes in life? I mean, have I been running in heels?
Have I been climbing in flip-flops?
It’s no wonder, really, that my “walk” sometimes gets tripped-up.
How many times have I had a mountain to climb and collapsed because I never bothered to put on hiking boots?
While I would never really go hiking in heels - why is it in my everyday living I do?
Why is it in everyday living I sometimes neglect to even bother putting on any shoes at all?
You see, I believe we have a God given purpose. We sense it. We desire it. The Word proclaims it. We know the Lords purpose and plans will prevail! (Isaiah 46:10 and Proverbs 19:21)
I think for me, I sometimes jump out ahead of Him. I can be impatient and thus take off running when God simply wants to walk.
And then when it’s time to run I stumble because rather than putting on God’s running shoes, I’ve slipped my feet into doubt, and I lace up with my own understanding.
The problem isn’t in running or walking, jogging or trotting, climbing or dancing. There is a time for all of that, and we have a very patient God, it’s just that if we want to be in alignment with His purpose and timing, we need to FIRST seek Him, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness … and then all these things (our desires) shall be added unto thee”. (Matthew 6:33)
We are to, “Lean NOT onto our own understanding” (Proverbs 3: 5-6). When God puts that call on our heart we need to not only have full faith in Him, but we need to step out with our “boots of faith and courage”, knowing that, “Every place your foot shall trod, I have given thee” (Joshua 1:3 and Deuteronomy 11:24).
And His promises … yeah ... they always require action, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:17).
It comes down to this. We need to believe the desire and gifts He has placed within us .We need to believe His still small voice.
And then … after we have properly shod our feet with the correct shoes, making certain we have placed them on the right feet, and after double checking to make sure they are securely tied with faith… we will be ready!
And then … all we have to do is, “Pick it uuupah like this, and throw it! Like that!”
… said the sweetest little boy with his shoes on wrong.
Blessings,Jodi
