If you want to forget all your other troubles, wear too tight shoes.
~ author Unknown
They seem like a harmless pair of cute, toddler, jelly sandals, no? Well … they were.
Until my cranky, ailing princess decided to try to squeeze her well-covered-with-socks-and-unhealed toes into them!
They just wouldn’t fit! And she just wouldn’t give up! All I could do was stand by watching incredulously as she struggled to get her feet into them. Tantrum after tantrum.
I would gently tell her “they aren’t fitting.” “Let’s wait until your feet heal.” “Look at your sparkly ‘Dorothy‘ shoes.”
Nothing I said mattered. She was bound and determined … all caught up in the emotion of a fresh pair of synthetic smelling jelly sandals.
Truth is … I finally had to walk away. She.just.would.not.listen to me.
I wonder how often God stares at us incredulously? Clearly, something in our lives just isn’t working. It’s not where we’re supposed to be … where He wants us … what he desires for us.
And yet we struggle. We make it fit.
Until we’re tantruming on our closet floor … all cried out, puffy-and-red-faced.
Meanwhile, God’s gently telling us, “it doesn’t fit.” “Just wait.” “Look over here at what I have better for you.”
But we refuse to see it. We’re all caught up in the emotion of that new pair of sandals.
And so our loving God let’s us go through it. He let’s us learn. Until we come to Him with a new pair of shoes, hoping those will be the ones that fit comfortably.
Oh, but how great it would be if we didn’t even have to go through that trial … walk all day in those very uncomfortable and ill-fitting pair of shoes.
Won’t you trust in Him today?
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
This post is linked up with Emily at Chatting at the Sky
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WOW! Did I need to hear that today! Thank you Tracie
Tracie, I’ve been enjoying your blog for some time but had to comment how wonderful this post is. Very sweet and touching and true. Have you been following http://www.incourage.me ? With a post like this one you could easily be a contributor, in my opinion.
WOW! This was just the word I needed to hear today…and Oh boy, how I wish my daughter would be receptive to this message. At 21 years of age, she’s still trying to find something to fill the hole in her heart that can only be filled by God!
I love this comparison. Love it!
hmmm… i’ve had shoes on my mind today :) and i am loving the picture you write today. how many times have i looked back at that tantrum and wished i hadn’t stomped my feet? too many. but i am starting to see the symptoms and begging myself to just trust…
Wow. You painted a vivid picture of yours truly.
For 12 months, I’ve tried to make uncomfortable shoes fit, but none have. I finally gave up and gave in.
Now, a comfortable (and gorgeous) pair are within reach, and I can’t wait to slip them on and dance til dawn.
I adore it when God reveals Himself to me so clearly in the everyday moments of my life. What a gift! Thank you so much for this reminder.
Love this Tracie….perfect teaching moment for her, you, and me! Thanks for sharing.
What a profoundly beautiful post. Seriously, just what I needed to be reminded of on this gorgeous Tuesday morning. Thank you.
This reminded me of Cinderella’s step-sisters trying to force the large feet into her delicate shoes. Sometimes I feel like I am shoving myself in a direction wehn God says,” Be still…these are not my plans for you.” Thank you so much for sharing your post. It came to me today in a very timely manner. God Bless!
will you please invite me to your 1st professional motivational speaking event? AWESOME!