Shoes from the Deep

I just came up for air. Putting away laundry in my long, narrow walk-in closet from 1975 was already hazardous to my health, but add to that an unruly, ginormous pile of shoes and you've got down-right treacherous conditions.

The humiliation came when I realized that 99% of these shoes were mine. Hubby has most of his stored systematically in another closet. So what was in this pile, you wonder? 7 pairs of sandals, 2 pairs of flip-flops, a few ballet flats, a few heels, tall black leather boots for the days I want to add a little sass to my ensemble, short black boots for those pants days, running shoes, work shoes, hiking boots, 3 pairs of slippers, and a few others to round out the lot. And that is just for the summer season.

Would you believe that I've spent the last few weeks shoe shopping?

My top reasons why I need and deserve new shoes:

• I just had a baby and my feet changed sizes
• My old brown sandals are too worn and need replacing
• The airlines will only allow me one bag, so I need versatile footwear for our vacation
• It's too hard to do ZUMBA moves in running shoes

I don't think the problem is buying or needing new shoes. I think my problem is in letting go of the old shoes. I should clear them out. Give them to a thrift store. Yet here they linger, cluttering my closet and obscuring the shoes that I really do like to wear.

Mark 10:21

Jesus told the rich young ruler "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."


In two different ways today I have been struck by the word come. Yes, it means to "to approach or move toward a particular person or place," but in order for that to happen you must leave another place. When you come to Jesus, you leave something else behind.


What shall I leave behind as I seek Jesus? A cluttered life littered with metaphorical shoes. The hurried soul that clamors for more stuff. The razzle-frazzled mom that puts too much emphasis on doing rather than loving.

And what shall I receive as I approach the Lord? The promised treasure. His peace. His timing. Contentment. Perspective. A teachable spirit. The ability to say no.

Tomorrow I will probably wake up and go to a couple of garage sales. I love a good bargain! But, with God's grace, I will make wise decisions bases on my family's needs rather than my inborn need to acquire more and more stuff.