Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: BUY - BYE (01/19/23)
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TITLE: In Search of Beautiful Feet | Previous Challenge Entry
By Donna Powers
01/25/23 -
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I'm the guy from that Christmas song; who bought the pair of shoes for that little kid with the dying Mom.
If you haven't heard it, you must not listen to a lot of Christmas music. But the little kid wanted to buy a pair of pretty shoes for his Mom. He said his Mom was going to die and wanted to be sure she had some nice shoes for when she met Jesus in person.
Like Jesus cares about shoes?
But, hey, my heart isn't made of stone. I felt sad for the kid. After all, my own Momma had "met Jesus" when I was about his age. I doubt my Momma was thinking about what shoes she would wear to meet Jesus, but I know it would have been nice if somebody had done something nice, like that, for her.
The shoes I bought for that kid didn't cost a whole lot. It didn't stop me from getting the shoes I'd picked out for myself, so I paid for both pairs of shoes and smiled at the grinning shoe kid as he ran from the store.
I'd walked into that store in an awful mood, and the gesture of buying those shoes had lightened my spirits. My life has felt stuck on "blah" for some time, so anything that lifted my spirits was welcome.
But that boy and those shoes impressed me.
Why shoes?
Of all things, shoes?
If his Momma was dying, and the little boy cared so much about his Momma's appearance, why not a new dress?
And - it couldn't be said often enough- why would Jesus care about her shoes? I don't remember much about Jesus, but what I learned as a kid in Sunday school didn't lead me to believe he did a shoe inspection when people came to heaven.
I couldn't stop thinking about it. I dashed out of the store, and after a few blocks, I caught up to him. He recognized me right away.
"Oh, hi, Mister. That was sure a nice thing you did."
"It was my pleasure, kid. Listen, what's your name?"
"Danny," he replied.
"That's great, Danny. So, Danny… why shoes?"
"What do you mean, Mister?"
"Why are shoes so important for your Mom? Why not a dress? Do you believe Jesus cares about shoes?"
"Well, no, Mister. Not really. Momma really loves Jesus, and she taught us kids that as long as we accept Him as our Savior, we will go to heaven. So, Momma would go to heaven even if she was barefoot."
"So, then, why… why the shoes?"
"Well, it's 'cause of Momma's favorite verse. She always said, "how beautiful are the feet of those who share the good news." And she did that. She taught Sunday School, and she taught us kids to love Jesus. So, she shared the gospel. So, I wanted her to have those shoes for her beautiful feet."
What could I say to that? I don't remember what I did say. I just told Danny I would think good thoughts for his Mom and drove away.
But I was stunned.
It was that verse.
It had been one of my own Mom's favorite verses, too. I remembered her saying it so often. Back when I was a kid. Back when I believed in God.
Why had I heard that verse again? Why now? I couldn't explain it.
And I sure can't explain what I'm doing now.
I'm driving down the street toward the church my Mom used to drag me to. I could use some good tidings- so maybe I'll find someone at church with beautiful feet.
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news…" Isaiah 52:7 (New King James Version).
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