Lessons Learned of Grace From Shoes…Yes, Shoes!

We have all heard the expression, walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, Right? This statement reignites my heart from a deeper more intellectual and true grit kind of persona. Several years ago, my life was forever changed, changed from so many perspectives, for the sake of this blog post I will keep it to the point but follow me, I am sure I will share more later!

This small-town southern girl got hit from behind while blindfolded and I somehow literally woke up one day and life as I knew it was no more. Dismayed and uncertain there I stood, in old worn-out pair of Nike’s, holding a bag that contained a few changes of clothes, a few make-up items, my car and a heart that was beyond broken, little did I know, I would spend the next 152 days, that way.  

To complicate matters, I was facing Mid-Life at its finest, for the first time in my life, I was dealing with some health issues, my youngest son had just left for Basic training my older 2 had also left and were starting their lives and careers. I was not only an empty nester, but I was also in the midst of what I now refer to as  “The Divorcing of Satan”.

My life had gone from sweet to sour in an instant. I can honestly say, if there is Hell on earth, I was living it. The great news, God, found me, fed me a big piece of humble pie, cradled me in his grace and I am forever grateful for finding his love, his ways, his direction, and SHOES!

Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.

Proverbs 4:26

I realized one morning the importance of shoes, I mean I had only a pair of tattered worn-out tennis shoes which by the way was something I rarely wore, I so much longed for a pair of my sandals, flip flops, and or maybe my favorite pumps or even loafers. I realized I had a vast array of shoes, just not in my possession along with every other thing I had ever owned including every dime I had ever made.

Having court, the next morning, I borrowed a pair of shoes as well as a dress, took me and my brokenness to the hearing, where I so happily was awarded my personal possessions back.  In the days to come, I would reminisce of the simple things I had for so many years taken for granted.

Simple things like your favorite hand lotion, nail clippers, face wash, your hairbrush, etc. things that we don’t realize we use often till they are simply not there and of course SHOES!

Walking in someone else’s shoes was a miracle and I will forever be grateful for having someone to lend me theirs, even though they just did not feel the same as my own. There is something comforting about your own shoes and the sense of direction attached to them.  

I will never forget the feeling seeing my personal possessions, it wasn’t the big-ticket items that excited me it was the simple things, that lotion, my face wash, and my nail clippers and my SHOES!!!

At last, my shoes…..well hold on Skippy, not so fast … Epic failure and sheer moment of panic came over me when I came to find I had boxes of my shoes or better-stated boxes of Shoe, Just one, yep, just one shoe of each pair.

50 shoes and not one pair, I mean WHAT?  What’s a girl to do? The tears of pain came pouring down my face. Could you be any crueler or mean?  Then God spoke to my heart, he told me to wash your face girlfriend and the sense of calmness came over me like never before.  I called my friends and we made it a big Joke and we laughed, and we laughed, and we laughed. It would become our inside joke, we would randomly end a conversation with the words, Just One!   

I would show up various places with 2 different shoes on, including the last court date when my Divorce was final, to see just how many people would notice my 2 different shoes. Well, the answer is always the same, Just ONE! Just one person, just one shoe different than the other simply, just One! It didn’t matter, because I knew that God was leading my steps, so the shoes were irrelevant the direction was the key.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

2 Peter 1:2-3

God’s grace came in the form of shoes, what was meant to hurt me was a pivotal turning point, an about-face to Jesus and his love, healing, and forgiveness. For months leading up to this point, I literally had nothing and watched the same 20 episodes of Sex in the City and late-night sermons of Joel Osteen. I know, what a strange combination, right? It doesn’t even seem to be logical, but I quickly learned how to turn my sorrow into joy, even when Joy was not evident. 

Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

My friends were my lifeline and taught me to find the laughter even when it hurts, Carrie Bradshaw taught me the power of shoes while Joel Osteen taught me the direction my feet should take regardless of my shoes.  Shoes taught me the power of God’s grace, How grace saved me from things that should of, could of and would have destroyed me.

Don’t let a temporary period of being uncomfortable keep you from a permanent blessing. Yes, it takes discipline. Yes, it’s uncomfortable. But your destiny is at stake.

Joel Osteen

My awareness of Shoes, your shoes, her shoes, his shoes, their shoes white shoes, blue shoes and even pairs of shoes is forever my focus. It’s a sense of understanding others, their stories, their lives, and proof that, Grace wins every time! 

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Today, I have shoes everywhere, in my car, in my closet under the bed, in my garage and even thought of inventing a shoe safe… Just kidding!

So, if you see me peddling Shoes, talking about shoes, taking pictures of shoes you know why! I am forever grateful for them and the many lessons they taught me and more so the loving arms they lead me to. Grace wins every time!

Speaking of shoes… check out these cute boots! Just like the ones pictured above.

But he said to me, “My GRACE is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

1 Corinthians 12:9

In my life, I have been protected, I’ve been directed and at times corrected. All by the Grace of God! Amen.