The Lessons I Learned the Day my Favorite Shoes Broke

 

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“Your pain could be God prying open your life and heart to remove a gift of His that you've been holding on to more dearly than Him.” 

               ― Tullian Tchividjian, Jesus + Nothing = Everything 

I know what you are thinking: "What in the world is that all about?" No, it is not a silly title and it is definitely NOT a silly question that you are asking. I simply want to share with you my story. Maybe a story that has happened to you, too. Please read on.

One morning, I woke up in a jolly mood, jollier than usual. As I picked out some clothes to wear, I was interrupted at least ten times by my two littles. One was wanting a hug (yes, she asks for a million hugs a day). She is my little cuddle girl. She wanted her vitamin gummies. She wanted to brush her teeth. My son wanted to know when we were going to workout. He wanted to know when we were going to the post office. Goodness, I think he even asked me why rabbits live in burrows and not on tree branches.

Long story short, there was a lot going on, but nothing was going to deter me from my one resolve: to get dressed and to wear my favorite shoes. And so I did...eventually. All moms out there know what I mean.

That day was a special day. I was helping run our community's swap at the chapel. For months, people in our community donate items that they no longer use and we keep them in a secure place. Three times a year, we hold these swaps where everyone in the community is invited to come and get what they need. It is all free. It is all in good to excellent to new condition. 

I feel very blessed to be a part of this community outreach. So, that day was Swap Day and there was a lot to do. We had to set tables up, take all the donations out of bags and boxes and set them up on said tables. We always get such an incredible team of helpers and volunteers. Thank you!

We worked hard all morning setting everything up. Then we went home to eat lunch and gave our littles a chance to take a nap and back to the Swap we went. We had a great turnout.

It lasted for 4 hours! It was great! 

After the swap was over, we cleaned up and packed up everything that was left. The next day, I was to drive it to the local battered women's shelter.

When I got home (around 7 o'clock that evening), I looked down and realized that my favorite (and most comfortable) shoes had broken! They had come apart at the seams and they weren't fixable. I was beyond saddened and wondered to myself, "What now?! How will I EVER live without them?" It wasn't that my shoes were a $300 pair. In fact, they cost me about $35, but were made just for me, embroidered just for me and mailed out all the way from India. I even got a small keychain as a gift for ordering! They were just my size and just my color. They were perfect for me and in my mind, none could ever replace them.

Then immediately, the Lord reminded me of what had transpired that day. All the work. All the effort. All the sweat. All the blessings. All the things everyone got for their families for free and all the things we got for our family for free.

I looked at the pile of goodies we got from the Swap that day.

I looked at my broken shoes.

I looked back at the pile and smiled.

I looked at my shoes and frowned.

Then slowly, I smiled.

You know what? It was worth it. It was so worth it.

I felt God asking me this question, "After all you did for Me and for your community and for your own family today, does that bring you joy?"

"Yes, it does."

"Did you give up a lot of your time and energy to organize this event and to serve today?" 

"Yes, I did."

"Why did you do that?"

"Because I love You. I do it for You."

"So, if I asked you to give up your favorite pair of shoes for Me, would you?"

And just like that, I understood. I finally captured a bigger snapshot of what He was trying to teach me.

Without knowing it, I did it. By serving Him and doing all the work I did that day, I did give up my favorite pair of shoes...for Him. So much so that I hadn't even noticed that they were broken until I got home. I was too busy serving to notice my precious shoes.

Suddenly, I didn't mind at all. My shoes no longer mattered. 

If someone was in need of shoes, I wouldn't have hesitated to give them up.

I realized that I had put too much value on something material that wasn't worth that high regard at all.

That day, I learned a couple of valuable lessons that I hope will be unforgettable:

1. If I had to lose something dear to me to serve others, I will gladly do it again.

2. I understand that I will own material things that I like more than others, but it isn't wise to place them in such high regard that we are put down by the loss of them.

That evening, I was reminded of this verse: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Luke 12:34

                                                    

May we always place our hearts in the right treasures.

“Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God, your functional savior. ”                  ― Martin Luther

“When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an ‘idol,’ something you are actually worshiping. When such a thing is threatened, your anger is absolute. Your anger is actually the way the idol keeps you in its service, in its chains. Therefore if you find that, despite all the efforts to forgive, your anger and bitterness cannot subside, you may need to look deeper and ask, ‘What am I defending? What is so important that I cannot live without?’ It may be that, until some inordinate desire is identified and confronted, you will not be able to master your anger.”                                          ― Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises  
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