These Shoes Feel Like Slippers

DSW Shoes sent me an email with the subject line: “These Shoes Feel Like Slippers!” I know advertising ploys and that one was supposed to entice me to check out that ad, but sorry, DSW! I wasn’t tempted. But, thank you, DSW, because you gave me food for thought for this blog today.

Pictured here are a gal’s absolute verification that “these shoes feel like slippers”. Several pairs seem to be worn out. The top two pair are newer – barely worn at all. The “worn-out” ones are symbols of guaranteed comfort and healing to my feet. From the wear and tear, you can see that I live in them when I’m not out and about. I know this brand of shoes was God's provision for healing as an answer to my prayers. And, though many of them look quite shabby, they still have the structure that keeps my feet supported. I can't bring myself to throw any away.

In the words of the great philosopher, Marilyn Monroe: "Give a gal the right shoes and she can conquer the world". That quote, and, especially that adorable little girl prancing around in her mama's shoes brings a smile to my face. Little girls just want to be like their mamas. But, there's something about us BIG girls who want to be like someone else, too! We want to “feel” like we’re wearing slippers – perhaps Cinderella’s glass slippers. Maybe it's because of who they're married to, or how wealthy they are, or how beautiful they are, or how smart they are, or what a bubbly, outgoing personality they have.

But, RIP, Marilyn Monroe, who didn't realize that God did GIVE us gals the RIGHT shoes, and we, not only CAN, but we ARE conquering the world. The RIGHT shoes to be in, are the ones that God created just for us to wear.

You and I are unique, one-of-a-kind, specially handcrafted originals. Before we were ever conceived, God had a plan and purpose that only we can fulfill (Jeremiah 1:5). We don’t have to try to fit into someone else’s shoes (or try to be like them or look like them). Remember the wicked stepsisters of Cinderella trying to fit into Cinderella's shoes, and they just couldn't? That's because they were trying to BE Cinderella. It didn't work for them and it doesn't work for us either.

We just simply must walk in the “designer” shoes that God made just for us. That’s what I do with my comfy, cozy, healing slippers. Once, I wore 3” heels – had every color and style imaginable. Oh, yes – I can verify that I had plenty of shoes – so much so that I received the Imelda Marcus Shoe Award (note the hair and shoe award photo here)! I no longer wear those shoes. It was a season. I’m in a new season now with different slippers – ones that God gave me to wear – and I own it. I was conquering the world in those 3” heels in MY season and now I’m conquering the world in these built-for-me slippers today.

Actually, it’s not at all about the shoes but about the men and women that God destined us to be, to show up when He calls us for duty – and whether that duty is on a computer writing a blog to encourage and motivate someone to live in audacious faith, behind a receptionist desk being a light to all she or he encounters, a nurse with loving hands and heart ministering to those in her or his care, those on a telephone bringing awesomeness to someone who needs an uplifting word, one on an airplane telling someone about God’s great love, or in front of a kitchen stove preparing a meal based on love and devotion to their family, or walking outside and embracing the One Who created it all – let’s go right on today, in our specially designed – one-of-a-kind shoes and conquer and change the world.

“Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with God.” Ephesians 6:15

I Was Fed Up

"Fed Up” = has had enough of a situation; annoyed with a state of affairs that has persisted for a long time.

A year ago this January, a crown was placed on my back fractured tooth. I was hounded for years by my dentists to get that crown. The only problem I was having were those annoying dentists that kept prodding me to get it done. I gave in but as soon as the temporary crown was placed, that tooth started giving me grief that intensified when the permanent crown was on. I had headaches, and the pain increased when food or water was near that tooth. My dentist assured me within six months the pain would be gone. It wasn’t. She sent me to a specialist and he recommended a root canal or remove the tooth. I put up with it another six months. One year later, I was FED UP with the pain. Two weeks ago, hesitantly, because she didn't want to pull a good tooth (it wasn't good to me), she pulled it. There is a space back there but no more tooth pain and no more headaches! Why did I wait so long? One year of misery instead of taking action sooner than later?

Jesus told the story of the prodigal son who left home with his inheritance, squandered it all on a tawdry lifestyle, and ended up eating in the pig pen. Everything he needed was at his father’s home but he settled for the pain and misery until he got FED UP and went home. "My father’s servants have it so much better than this! I’ll go back and ask to be one of his servants!” Check out the love of the father and his response: “While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. The father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s feast and celebrate’” (Luke 15:20-23). All the joy of his father’s love awaited him. He needed to get FED UP enough to go home to him.

Maybe you're FED UP with something in your life. Maybe a job where you're mistreated and overlooked You're ready to find a job where you are esteemed and valued. Maybe you're FED UP with the vices that you thought you had to have to make it through another day. You're ready to seek help from a Christian counselor or pastor. Most of all, if you are FED UP with looking in all the wrong places for hope and love and ready to "go back home", like the prodigal son, to His Father. No matter what we’ve done, when we come home to God, He wraps us in His love. He gives us His best and says, “All is forgiven! Let’s have a feast! My child has returned to me.”

Maybe you’re FED UP today. God sees you. He knows and cares about you. What a comfort to hear those words and to know we don’t have to live without hope any longer. Rather than being FED UP, it’s time to be FILLED UP with God's love, faith, hope, joy, peace, and all the full-meal-deal promises of His Word. Getting fed up is good because it means we go home to a celebration. And, like my freedom from constant tooth pain I let go way too long, you will know freedom from the pain of hopelessness, loneliness, sadness, fear, and regret. When you get fed up and make the change, you'll be celebrated and rejoiced over and your mourning will be turned into dancing.

Psalm 34:19: “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”

The Imelda Marcos Award

Day 145 of Photo Inspirations -- The Imelda Marcos Award
#TBT -- Imelda Marcos, best known for her 3,000+ pairs of shoes, was the wife of the former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.

So, this photo is ME (check out that hair)  -- 23 years ago when I was Associate Director of Communications at the University of Manitoba.  It was a privilege to work with such great people at such a phenomenal university.  This event....was our Department's Christmas Party where I was presented with The Imelda Marcos "Gold Shoe" Award -- because of my passion for shoes.  I had plenty of them.  If I saw a great pair of shoes on sale (the operative word here is "sale" -- I was, and AM a bargain shopper), I would buy them......and THEN find the outfit to go with them.  I accepted my award with all humility and gratitude.  LOL!  

When I saw this photo, I laughed -- thinking how far I've come since those days.  Back then, it was striving for significance and relevance and climbing the career ladder.  It was a special season of my life -- it was a part of the "making of Donna".  I gained so much knowledge and leadership abilities during those years.

FAST FORWARD -- 23 years -- to today. A LOT of water under the bridge. Everything in life that I encountered -- in business, in relationships, in growing in faith, in valuing everything and every circumstance that got me here -- have been a part of God's Master Plan.  My priorities have changed. My responsibilities have changed.  What once seemed important to me, has been downgraded.  What was unimportant to me......has ranked up.  And what is most important to me today.....are those things that money can't buy.  It is those friendships, those intentional moments of making a difference in someone's life, it is making memories, it is cherishing the moments,  it is the opportunity to live care-FREE -- not losing sleep on those things that matter so little, and the absolute privilege of living with the mindset of "in the light of eternity".  

Matthew 6:19-21 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth where they can erode away or may be stolen. Store them in heaven where they will never lose their value and are safe from thieves.  If your profits are in heaven, your heart will be there too."    Yes, I'm thinking more about heaven than ever before......and taking lots of folks with me.  And, shoes aren't such a big deal anymore -- sure won't be taking those shoes with me when I go!  ;-)