The Bear tried on Dad’s slippers the other day. It was of course adorable enough for a picture or eight. We’re first time parents… Everything is adorable enough for eight pictures and some video footage!
I was thinking about how likely he was to fall over if he decided to try to walk, but he just kind of stood there, marvelled in the difference in size, smiled and climbed out before he kept on trucking.
I realized as I thought about it afterwards, sometimes I put on the wrong size shoes.
I’m not one of those ladies who’s a size 6, but 7 feels so good I wear 8. But, based on my comparisons with how other people are living, what they are capable of, what they do, maybe even how they dress or how they look, I begin to want to walk in different shoes — ones that aren’t the right size for me. Do you know what I mean?
It was obvious that the Bear would fall over if he tried to keep trucking in Dad’s slippers. He would’ve been hindered with every step, and it could have even been dangerous for him — his clumsy efforts might’ve landed his front teeth on the corner of the coffee table so that he could have his own fat lip!
When we try to wear other people’s shoes, instead of finding the ones that are right for the feet that God calls each of us to walk in, we are bound to struggle, perhaps even to try to do too much, to the peril of our health and sometimes our ability to hold ourselves together.
Finding the easy yoke, the light burden, the green pastures, the still waters… the right pair of shoes come from following the Lord. Ask Him what your feet should be doing today, and let Him show you what shoes should be on your feet.
We’ll let the Bear stick with these for now…
“Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ‘Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
xCC
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Great illustration. I pray that we all walk according to his guidance and direction. I pray for obedience. You have a great website here. My wife is South African. She is from the Gauteng province (Orange Farm). We were just there in December. I had a chance to witness to some in the township. God is good. He will always make a way. Stay blessed.
Great to be connected, Stephen! I hope you get to spend some more time here ministering for Jesus!!
Caroline, I have really enjoyed reading your blog. You are very gifted with your ways of expressing Christ’s true character! Your little boy is such a cutie! May you and your family feel the prayers and encouragement from our family! I know God must be smiling down on you! 🙂 PS Thanks for finding me! I’ll have to email you my family blog since you have my hairbow holder blog.
Karen, it is so cool to be in touch with you! Thanks for the encouragement! I’m looking forward to telling folks about your awesome hairbow holders soon! And a special thanks for the prayers — much needed, especially this week while we’re a MacBook down, two guests and two shoe distributions UP around here. 🙂
I concur, GREAT ILLUSTRATION! It speaks to me on soo many levels (not to mention my love for a great pair of shoes – in any size)!
Caroline, I love the way you weave the simplest of everyday stories into a profound message from God.
This shoe analogy speaks to me just now as I try to figure out what to do for a job in the future. I used to be a lawyer in the UK, am now working as a legal secretary in Canada – and I haven’t the faintest idea about direction when we return to the UK next year.
I’ve been thinking a lot about different options – but as you say, I have to walk in the shoes that God calls me to walk in. I need to discern what’s good for me as opposed to what’s good for other people.
Thank you for giving me another way to pray about it!
Lisa, I am really glad you were encouraged! I will trust the Lord to help you “find your feet” and His will for you! 🙂 I feel for you on the living cross-continent and uncertainty about what’s ahead. The good news is the Lord is already there, so if you follow His lead you’ll be in the right place doing the right thing at the right time! And that feels good!