Rejoicing in Walking

For some reason today I have been hanging out on the world-wide-web looking through listings of shoes. As I looked through the various pictures I found an assortment that I would so love to add to my wardrobe and my closet. Most of them would be for work, but some would be for play and to wear on those "just because" days. Check these out - do you see yourself in any one of them? This pair of zebra print shoes makes me think about my "wild" side and the adventures I am looking for each day!

How about these purple pumps? They strike me as the perfect pair for a reward after I have lost the last ten pounds of my diet! That day is getting closer and this may be the perfect incentive. Besides, I know they will look pretty good on me and my personality would really show them off to their full advantage. :)

There is a whole rainbow of colors to choose from on ebay, amazon, and other websites. Prices range from minuscule to the ridiculous! There are conventional choices also - basic black, brown, gray or white. Styles vary from boots, sandals, pumps, and loafers, to espadrilles, sneakers, loafers and ... the list goes on. In other words, there is something for every personality and every taste.

The shoes in the pictures are more to me than fabric and leather or "man-made materials". They are a reflection of the people who wear them. What I really see when I look at a pair of green plaid pumps, or a yellow polka dot pair of flats, or those metallic red peep-toe shoes is the unique person God has created me to be. I see my quirks and my gifts, my talents and my faults in the colors and in the simplicity of the basic everyday. And every once in awhile I will meet someone with that same pair of shoes on and we will have an instant connection. This makes me wonder what other people see when they look at me.

Does someone see me and see a person that loves the Lord? Or do they see someone that talks about the love of the Lord but walks away from someone in need? Does my demeanor reflect my true heart or do I withhold Christ's love from others? As I put my shoes on each morning, I can only pray that whoever I meet throughout the day will see the joy of God's salvation on my face and in every step I walk as I try to follow Him.

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."  Isaiah 61:10