Why shoes?

If I could I would be barefoot all the time. I love to walk on warm sand and cool grass and would love a cobble stone shower floor one day.

Don’t get me wrong I really love shoes. Just the other day my daughter came into my closet and said, “you have a really nice shoe collection.” I said, “thank you I worked so hard to get it.” What did I mean by that? See when in high school, ‘84-’88, my shoe collection looked so differently then. I think I had every color baby doll flats and high top converse possible. When I got them I thought of nobody but myself. I didn’t think of the maker, I didn’t think that there were people around the world, including America, who were barefoot daily and not by choice.

Through out the years I discovered the dignity that shoes gave. A symbol of peace as referenced in Ephesians in regards to the full armor of God. When we would go on missions trips I would take comfortable shoes, not cute and new ones, and without fail I would always catch the locals looking at my shoes. There are at least three times I can recall when my husband came home barefoot. I always thought it was interesting that God always had him give shoes over anything else.

Then there’s the popular quote, “Before you judge me, walk a mile in my shoes”. I don’t ever want to assume that I know enough about anyone to understand them and their actions.

In 2009 I discovered Toms and loved the story of the buy one give one shoe brand and began to study more about conscious consumerism. In 2013 I did a shoe drive with Soles4Souls for kids to be able to go back to school with pride.

And for me shoes have been a reminder of very special moments because what may have started as a trendy Instagram thing, taking pictures of my (our) feet became for me monumental archives.

See every shoe in my closet now tells a story. For me this is a sign of growth, yes I know it should be something that should come in age and time but doesn’t always. It has to be intentional, a matter of the heart.

The shoes I wear now not only look good but make me feel good. They represent my steps and the journey of many.

**My latest pair are ROMA rain boots, a Christmas gift from son. I encourage you to look up their story.