Waiting Shoes

Five little wooden shoes sat quietly in a line by our front door last evening. Waiting. Wondering. Hoping. On the night that, according to the old Dutch legend, Sinterklaas visits the homes of sweet little boys and girls, my own sometimes-naughty-and sometimes-nice-children checked and re-checked the entryway just to be certain that their shoes were in the perfect spot for our expected guest.

And as I walked by the funny sight with moonlight pouring through our windows, I marveled at how closely the odd clumps of wood capture the state of my soul without Christ. As the starry lights of our Christmas tree danced in the darkness, I could think of no better picture for the advent season than those waiting empty shoes. Long ago the world “walked in darkness.” Empty hearts. Empty lives. Empty hopes. Longing. Waiting. Yearning.

And into that emptiness stepped ONE whose feet would fill the void in every heart that cried His name. Into the world’s eternal night stepped the One who brought the DAWN. Oh, Praise Him! Hallelujah!

This morning as my sleepy-eyed children rejoiced in their shoes filled to the brim, I thanked the Lord that He offers the same for my soul. Because of those Holy Feet born in Bethlehem long ago, this stumbling mommy can be filled morning after morning with the gifts of love and joy, peace and patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control.

“Come and follow me,” my Savior whispered as I packed up the clunky old shoes and stashed them back in the closet where they will wait for tulips and springtime, Dutch costumes and noisy parades. “And leave those wooden shoes behind!” my soul-mate teased, “They’re not big enough to hold all the gifts I plan to give you! ”

The Overflow: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” -Isaiah 9:2

Meet Alicia

I am a lover of Jesus Christ, a seeker of abundant life, and a freelance writer and speaker. I’ve got a handful of children, a home full of laughter and a life full of noise. I’m the frequent hostess of kitchen-floor dance contests, meal time talk-a-thons and dirty laundry campaigns. I love the sound of my children’s laughter, the feeling of my husband’s hand in mine, and the smell of fresh-brewed coffee. I make my home in the Midwest where tulips bloom and neighbors smile. While my laundry baskets are NEVER empty, my soul sometimes is… Read more.

Waiting Shoes

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Are you longing to spend time with God but life keeps getting in the way?

Does your faith feel like a drudgery instead of a delight?