MAY 2019
SHOES
I recently re-read a favorite picture book of mine called, “My Shoes Take Me Where I Want To Go,” by Marianne Richmond. As she names the various shoes in her young family’s closet our imaginations take us to the various venues where these shoes could be worn, favorite sports, the wild west, the beach, Hollywood, mountain tops, etc.
That motivated me to look in my own closet. I’m not much of a shoe guru. I wear my shoes and boots until they fall apart and I don’t have too many choices. Take my rubber boots for example. I have had them for at least 10 years. My daughter took them to Costa Rica when she was in college. She worked in the rainforest and needed to protect her feet from unacceptable critters. Recently they have lived at the horse barn where I boarded my horse. I wear them in the spring, mostly, when the mud in the paddock is deep and stinky. They aren’t allowed in the house! The same rule applies to the winter boots I wear out to the farm. I do have a new addition to my “horsey” foot attire, my “horse slippers.” To be clear, these are for my feet not my horse’s feet. My children gave them to me for Christmas this year. They are toasty warm, felted wool, made in and shipped from Estonia!
My black leather shoes are my school shoes. They’re comfortable and easy to put on. My feet need comfortable shoe these days so I wear them often! I try to polish them from time to time to make them look work-place worthy, but the streak of glue, enhanced with glitter still shows if you look closely. If I notice you looking at my feet I’ll know what you’re looking for.
The navy blue shoes in my closet looked so scuffed up I didn’t wear them often………until recently. My sister and I were reminiscing about how nice looking our dad kept all the family shoes. It was his army skills that kept them shiny. “Spit and polish” he called his method. He never taught us the technique and now our shoes look pitiful. Plus, I had no navy polish to work with, since the shoe repair store has such short hours and I can’t seem to get there on time. BUT, “what to my wondering eyes should appear,” in my basement pile of memorabilia from Dad, but his shoe box with bushes, rags and BLUE SHOE CREME, still soft and useable after many years! My navy shoes look great now. I’m proud to wear them! Thanks, Dad!
Lastly, I love my gray and pink running shoes. I’ve put many miles on them over the years running down the road at the cabin and in the neighborhood. They feel so comfy I have taken them as my primary footwear to Ireland, Scandinavia, the Grand Canyon and Canyonlands National Park. They’re showing a little wear but how can I part with something that has made so many memories with me?
Shoes, shoes, shoes, they let us be who we want to be and take us where we want to go. They protect our feet, take us to work, help us play and they wear us out. At the end of the day, when I’m tired and worn, they take me home, bringing me to the feet of Jesus where I can feel safe and loved like a child climbing into her mother’s lap at the end of the day. There is no better place to be.
Where will your shoes take you today?
