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Sticking with a Sure Thing
Since I regrew a head of hair, I’ve been reacquainting myself with my inner girly girl. Somewhere in the midst of that process, I realized that the trusty black Clark’s slip-ons I wore to work almost every day were, um,
Sensible.
So I set off on a quest to update my shoes. After work one day, I drove to Macy’s and told the young man in the shoe department that I needed new shoes. I had only four requirements: quality, comfort, style, and moderate price.
(I might as well have asked him to equip them with wings, right?)
Nick the Saintly Shoe Salesman brought me thirty-four pairs to try before I finally made my selection:
One single pair of black leather flats with a little ornament across the toe box.
“Did you find new shoes?” Rich asked innocently as I returned home, exhausted.
“I did. But goodness! What an ordeal!”
“Ordeal?” He blinked.
“It took over an hour to find one. One. O-N-E pair of shoes. That’s so inefficient! I could buy a whole week’s worth of groceries in less than an hour!”
Apparently there are people in this world who would think an hour trying on new shoes was some kind of treat. I’m not one of those people.
Later that evening, when I was putting my new shoes away, I spotted the beautiful silver satin shoes I had worn to my daughter’s wedding. I loved them because I didn’t have aching feet or a sore back after being on my feet for hours. In fact, I wore the same shoes when Rich’s daughter married the following year, because they were that comfy.
The very next day, Nordstrom sent me an email.
They were having a shoe sale. My beautiful-and-comfortable silver shoes had come from there. And look! Brown flats from the same maker, on sale for half price! And available in my size!
Free shipping clinched it. I ordered the brown flats, feeling clever.
Just like my silver heels, they fit like a dream. Since then, I’ve ordered a few more pairs of this brand and they all fit as if my own personal cobbler had made them.
I don’t waste my time in the shoe department anymore. I’ve found a sure thing.
I’m brand-loyal because the brand runs true. It has never failed me.
It’s funny. Lately, shoes remind me of God.
I tried so many things. I spent time, money, my youth, chasing, searching–nothing delivered the promised peace and comfort.
But God, my great big God?
He’s true. He’s never failed me.
My favorite brand of shoe may change someday.
My God never will.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5 (ESV)
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