When I was a little girl, one of the greatest life lessons I learned had to do with a pair of shoes.

I remember begging my mother for a pair of bright blue patent leather shoes. My mother was a single working mom so it was a big ask for her limited budget. Somehow though, she managed to scrape together the money to buy the shoes. 

Once I owned these blue beauties, I was afraid to wear them for fear of scuffing them. I’d slip them on and walk around on the carpet like a fashion runway model – but rarely wore them outside. Even though the shoes kept their perfect patent leather shine, my feet weren’t done growing. Quite naturally, I outgrew the prized shoes, barely having worn them and ended up giving them away.   

Today, I have a habit of using things until they completely fall apart. My athletic shoes, exercise equipment and favorite Bible are all held together with duct tape and a wing and a prayer. Eventually I dispose of the shoes and the gym equipment, but even in its broken-down state, I can’t discard my Bible. It contains a lifetime of notes, prayers and tears and still has much more to offer.

There are lessons to be gleaned from shoes – old or new, and worn-out Bibles.   

If we overuse things, they fall apart - but if we let things lay dormant, they have little value.  

I possess gifts and talents that I fail to use for various, mostly selfish reasons. If I’m not using them, God has every right to take them away and give them to someone else.  

My choices are to use every last bit of talent that God has given me to further His Kingdom and glorify Him (because I still have much more to offer). OR … I can let my gifts die from inactivity, basically throw them away - which ultimately benefits no one because I am choosing to let them waste away. 

The choice should be obvious. I pray daily, “take everything that you have given me, Lord and use ME. I may be old, but I’ve still got much to offer!” Even if I am being held together with the adhesive of God’s grace and mercy – “take all of me, Lord!”

How do your “shoes” fit these days?  Do you plan to “use them … or lose them” or “lose them, never having used them at all?” 

You know what they say … if the shoe fits!

To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.  Matthew 25:29 (NLT)

Kathy Kurlin
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