I
needed a new pair of shoes, so last month for my birthday I got these.
They weren't the most expensive shoes and they weren't the cheapest either, but for some reason I had a hard time wearing them. It wasn't that they didn't fit or that I didn't like the color, I just couldn't bring myself to wear them. So I kept wearing my old shoes.
(Ok, they are not quite this bad, but Jacob has my camera and I can't take a picture of my real shoes.)
Then last Sunday they announced in church that they were collecting shoes for the homeless. I thought about my pink shoes--the ones I hadn't worn in two weeks; the ones that were still brand new. Oh no Lord, Not my pink shoes! You don't want me to give up my pink shoes do you? I need new shoes. Do have to give up my pink shoes?
We were at Monroe Park and helped pass out shoes to the homeless last year. I remember how happy the people were. It was fun to bless them. It felt good to give. After church, Richard told me that he felt like he needed to donate a pair of shoes.
Sigh.
Really God? TWO pairs of shoes?
The next day I took my pink shoes back to Dick's and exchanged them for another pair that I liked that were less expensive. I got back $30 in cash. My new shoes cost $40 (I had a coupon) but they were the cheapest they had at Dick's. Where could I get a pair for $30? I thought about Walmart, but I didn't think it was right for me to buy my shoes at Dick's and buy someone else's at Walmart. Then I thought about Kohl's. I buy shoes there and they have a clearance rack. So I drove straight to Kohl's and on the way I prayed, Lord could you help me find TWO pairs of shoes for $30? Can you do that for me? That was a crazy thing to ask for, but I needed two pairs--one for Richard and one for me. When I got to Kohl's I headed straight to the clearance rack. On the first rack there was a pair for $33 dollars. On the second rack there was a pair for $23 dollars. Then there on the bottom row of the last rack were two boxes of Avia tennis shoes. One was size 11 and one was size 8.5 and they were marked 80% off. I took them to the register and the total was $29.38.
Two pairs of shoes regularly marked $69.99 each, for $30.
And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19
If I had held onto to those pink shoes, all I would have is pink shoes.
If I hold on to my stuff, then all I have is stuff.
But if I hold on to God he will take care of my needs... and the needs of the people around me.
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Matt. 6:33.
