Sensible Shoes

Do you remember going "school shopping" when you were a child? It was always exciting for me! We didn't have a lot of money, but we always got a new notebook, fresh notebook paper, a box of pencils and a pencil case. We also got to get a couple of new outfits and a new pair of shoes. I loved school shopping day!

When it came time to pick out a pair of shoes, we always had to choose the "sensible" ones...the ones that would last the longest. Often, they were just a tad big, to allow for "room to grow." Now, I must say, the choices of school shoes in the 60's simply did not compare to the choices children have these days. The popular shoes for girls were saddle oxfords, penny loafers, and mary janes. I don't really remember much about most of the shoes I wore in elementary school, but I know they were "sensible." I do, however, remember a pair of shoes I got to get when I was in the sixth grade.

I can remember sitting in the shoe department looking at the Buster Brown image over a selection of shoes while my mother was getting shoes for my sister and my brother. My eyes were drawn to the most beautiful, soft gold leather slip-ons with a little laced bow at the toes. They even had a little, flat heel. They definitely WERE NOT sensible. But they were BEAUTIFUL! I could almost imagine myself wearing them walking to the bus stop and to my classes. Oh the outfits I could wear with those shoes! I picked them up and held them as if they were magic shoes.

Of course, my mother came over to me and saw me holding the shoes. I showed them to her and sang all sorts of praises about the shoes and how they were PERFECT for me. She said they weren't sensible and that I needed a sensible pair of shoes. She must have seen the look on my face, and in that moment, I believe, my mother must have remembered what it was like to be a young girl and really want a pair of beautiful shoes but knowing you would only ever be able to have the sensible ones. My mother bought those soft leather gold slip-on shoes for me that day. I have never forgotten it. Sensible shoes made sense, but my mother seemed to know that I needed a pair of beautiful, magic shoes. Shoes that made life fun, shoes that made you want to skip on your way to school, even if you were 11 years old, now, and shouldn't be skipping anymore.

Life is a lot like wearing sensible shoes. We work, we come home, we eat dinner, we pay bills, we do the things expected of us. We do the things we know we need to do. The sensible things. Sometimes, though, we need to do the unexpected. Sometimes, we need to break from the routine and put on our fun shoes and do something completely NOT sensible, something unexpected, something magical.

Yes, there is a time for sensible shoes, but there is a need for magical, fun shoes, too. If you have spent your whole life only wearing sensible shoes, you need to go find the most magical, wonderful, amazing, unsensible shoes you can find. Put them on and wear them.  Don't leave them on the shelf. They will make your heart sing and you will feel alive! You might even find out that those are the shoes you should have been wearing all along!

Happy shoe shopping!

"Easy Out"

Growing up I was never athletic, nor did I have any athletic talent outside of jump ropes and hoolahoops. I dreaded recess on the days we would play team sports, like kickball. I knew that I would be picked last to be on a team. When it was my turn to be "up," the opposing team would always say "Easy Out! Everybody move in closer!" The truth was even though I would try very hard and would believe that "this time I could do it," I would only kick the ball a mere few feet and would be tagged out immediately. It was disheartening.

Fast forward to adult life. The company I work for decided that it would be good for our health to join a sports team made up of coworkers. The teams would play each other for fun. My coworkers decided to form a kickball team and asked if I wanted to be on the team. I know what you're thinking..."Hey, at least you weren't picked last." True, but I knew my athletic skills had not gotten better with age, so I declined. I could cheer them on, but I wouldn't play.

You see, I had learned some valuable lessons growing up.  Each person needs to find their own "team" to play on. They need to find where their talents are and "play" in that arena. I knew I could not play kickball well and knew I wouldn't enjoy it if I tried. (I did enjoy watching them play, though!)

I learned, growing up, that I really liked school and learning, liked reading, liked playing the guitar, and liked singing. While in school, I joined the clubs I was interested in and I joined the chorus. As an adult, I have sought out similar interests. I was involved in Music Ministry for 35 years. I have also continued to learn by taking different classes along the way.

One of the most important lessons I learned, growing up, is that I am not defined by "what I can't do," I am defined by "what I can and what I want to do."

What about you? Are you stuck back in your own "Easy Out" situation, focusing on what you can't do? Choose a new team to play on and find the things you can do and like to do. The next time you're "up," you'll kick a home run!