A male friend asked me one day why women are so "into shoes"?  Laughing, I replied that I had no idea why, it just is.  Later that evening, the question started pushing other thoughts out of my head; wanting attention.  Opening my closet, there was the evidence--boxes and boxes of shoes, shoe bag on the door, and another one hanging inside the closet.  Most of them had been on sale.  Its okay, you can laugh with me.

Taking a serious inventory, I began to separate them into givers and keepers.  Thirty-eight pairs of shoes were just too many, even though I worked in a mid-Manhattan (New York) environment where people actually comment on how many times you wear something.

Methodically they were analyzed by use:  walking, church, event, and work.  And then I remembered a warning my mother had etched forever in my mind.  "Keep some extra, you never know when you're going to need it."  Right then and there, an "ah ha" conviction that some things had to go, and the first was my attitude.

The givers went to a neighbor who could sell them on the street and make some much-needed money for his literal survival.  My closet now more orderly was still sufficiently stocked for a decade of more, but it was a good start.  Satisfied, I shut the door.

A few months afterwards, the Lord spoke to my heart that it was time to move.  He had been preparing me for the harvest of souls in the international fields.  With each move around the United States God had given me specific instructions on what I could and could not take.  This time was no exception.  I was to take only two bags with me. Everything else was to be given away.  The other stipulation was to take only two suits and two pairs of shoes, and the rest that could fit in the two bags was my choice.

Carefully selecting two suits that could be worn in any weather or situation, the other fifteen were laid out on the bed, all the shoes except for a pair of sneakers and one pair of black high heels were into bags and sat by the side of the bed.  Now I waited ...

Staring at the stark differences between light and dark, smooth and texture, my thoughts began to travel to a distant place called childhood.  Closing my eyes and smiling, revisiting wonderful images of playing dress-up, clomping around the house in shoes too big to wear sensibly, and large blouses that served as the princess; beautiful gowns complete with colored snap beads and belts.

Recognizing that as children we played in things too big for us--shoes, clothes, hats.  We were being gently prepared as we pretended about our future, our grown-up desires.  We were being coached to think beyond the experiences of a childhood day.  Our preferences, likes and dislikes were being formed.  We played, waiting for the time when we could choose for ourselves our clothes, shoes, wants and don't want, including hand-me-down thoughts.

Jolted back to reality by the loud knock on the door. My neighbor had arrived to start moving his new inventory. What a joy and delight to watch him quickly move to the suits, lifting some up, running his hands over others, noticing that many still had their store tags on them having never been worn. He began dancing and squealing like a child on Christmas morning with shear delight. "Are you sure you want me to take all of this?" he questioned.

"Oh yes!" I giggled. "Watching you get excited is worth it all."

Next morning I was on the bus with my two bags, wearing sneakers and the black heels carefully put in one of the bags. Settling into my seat, looking out the window at the frozen fields of winter, I realized that I had indeed grown into my mother's shoes.

It was the feet of the disciples that Jesus chose to wash as a symbol of love and servanthood. Then instructed us to do likewise. As women, our natures to nurture, love, and serve—wearing the shoes of peace in an often disharmonious world. We have become wives, sisters, nieces, daughters, associates, and neighbors, ready and able to help mold the world in which we live; watching our young girls stumble, experience, and find balance into womanhood.

"How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things." (Romans 10:15 KJV)

Weekly Challenge: You are beautiful. Within each of us is love and heart for giving. Find at least four people this week, to give from your heart encouragement, friendship, or a small token of appreciation. Put your best shoe forward as you preach (demonstrate) the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. Then join us in Differences Encouraged Group and share the experience with us!

Our differences: How and what we do. Our similarity: Our Christian love

YOU do make a difference!

To read more of my weekly columns (Thursday) click here and join my Differences Encouraged Group ladies, click the link and join us here