I needed a new pair of black dress shoes. I used to like shoe shopping, but since my knee replacement surgery, it isn’t nearly as much fun. I remember shoe shopping trip with my friend, Tena. Let’s just say that I spent enough that day to make a car payment on my old T-Bird. I’m not a shoe snob and I never had the best shoes in the room, but I enjoyed the shopping process.

But, since the knee surgery, I have given up wearing heels and look for the softest shoes I can find that fit and don’t look “too” orthopedic. As a child my shoes were literally orthopedic, so I know how those look and feel. But, soft shoes and flats are the best things for my body and they really do feel great!

Anyway, I went shoe shopping. My “good black shoes” had to be replaced. (Men: Please understand that nearly every woman has this pair in her closet. Yes, we have many other pairs, but most of us have a favorite pair of black dress shoes.) My priorities are simple: size, softness, style, color. As I walked through the aisles at a large shoe store, I pulled boxes, waiting to try them on at the same time and do the comparisons that are so important.

I had several boxes and it looked like I had pretty much exhausted my options – it was time to try them on. As I sat there, another shopper walked by. She was wearing a pair of shoes that looked just like my second pair of Asics walking shoes – same color and style. I commented that I loved those shoes and wished that when I had bought my last pair of Asics that I had reordered those rather than trying something new.

We began to chat. She asked me what I was looking for. I explained that I had to wear softer, low heeled shoes. My physical therapist had advised me that this was the best thing for me and that following his instructions had brought me many pain free days. She seemed distracted and kept looking at beautiful stiletto heels. She could carry them off and I was just a little envious.

She asked me quietly, “How have you done since the surgery?” I replied that I was doing great – the surgery had gone very well and that I was still following my physical therapist’s instructions 2 ½ years post-surgery. I’ve been very happy with the results. But, my shoes post-surgery aren’t nearly as exciting as my former choices were.

I then asked her what she did. I didn’t know her; she could have lied, and I would never have known. But, her reply was simple, “I’m a physical therapist. I know what I should do. But, clearly from the pile of shoes in front of me, I wasn’t planning to do the right thing.” I smiled but didn’t say anything. About then, I had decided on my pair of shoes and we said our goodbyes.

I have no idea what she bought that day. But, her words have come to my mind so many times. She said that she wasn’t planning to do the right thing. I knew why I needed to wear the less attractive shoes, but I don’t know a thing about her situation. Maybe she also had been advised to wear something other than what was grabbing her attention.

How often have I planned to not do the right thing? Am I on track this Christmas season to do the right thing? It’s a fair question to ask; and, it isn’t a hard question to answer — if we’re honest.

Just a thought as we start this first week of Advent.

Love,

Jill (just one of God’s kids)

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)