What Shoes Should I Wear???

How many times have you been getting ready to go somewhere and that pivotal goes through your head?

"What shoes should I wear?"

If you are like me, you have anywhere from two to eight options for any given outfit. As women we comment on shoes regularly.
           "Cute Shoes!"
           "Nice heels!"
           "OMG! Where did you get those shoes!?!?!?!"

Women are given a multitude of styles to choose from. Most of us collect all styles rather than choose just one. We can wear flats, semi flats or heels. Loafers, sling back, clogs, wedges, high heels, low heals. Chunky heels, stilettos, kitten heel, platforms, 1 inch to six inch heels. Sandals, gladiator sandals, flip flops, thongs, bejeweled, leather... Pointy toe, semi-pointy toe, rounded toe, square toe, peep toe, open toe... Boots,with zippers, buckles, ruffles, gathers, of leather or suede. Gogo boots, ankle high, calf high, knee high and thigh high... The list goes on! I won't even discuss color, but that is also a very important topic when deciding a shoe's cute factor.

What kind of shoe do you wear?

There is an expression used in connection with power and positions of importance and great responsibility.

"Big shoes to fill."

My mind associates this expression with men for some reason. When I envision this "Large" pair of shoes, I see a pair of men's brown dress shoes, bordering on clown size. But what if that "large" pair of shoes we had to fill were some red four-inch stilettos?
What if they were cheap plastic hooker boots? What if they were $1 flip flops? What if they were barn boots? What if they were plain running shoes?

Women have confused themselves and furthered our deluded brains down a path of mental-ism. Women don't know out their own minds most days and we usually mess up our best laid plans. We are goofy and don't have all the answers, rules, or maps. Sorry ladies, I just gave it all away.

Society sells women the rules of what we should look like, be like, act like, think like and adhere to. We need to be thin, big-boobed, wear clothes that leave little to the imagination and don't give you much material to use artistically or attractively. We have several models that are deemed suitable by the status quo. Skanks are desirable, beautiful women. In reality they are images that men disrespect and degrade mentally, and physically. Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan, demonstrate women that are sexual objects to all their male fans and not respected by most women.

There are the successful, empowered cooperate women who are the Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt of the modern world. These are the women all girls should look up to and be.Women who are competing with men in the business and political world and demanding their rights, doing their best, and conquering all in the name of woman's rights.

Then, there are the "mom"characters. There are the "bad" mom's, like the "Octomom" who irresponsibly spawns children they cannot afford to raise. Or the crack addicts who do not love the children they do have, and then there are the suburban soccer moms in their Hondas' and cookie cutter homes where life is Leave It To Beaver-esque.

Or is it? Two words. Desperate Housewives. Anyone can fit into these social roles, right? I don't want to.

What if our body doesn't fit that stereotype? What if we prefer our flat Mary Jane's to power heels or flip flops to stilettos? What shoes should we want to wear as women?

Have we ever asked God the pivotal question? "God, what shoes should I wear?"

Women are powerful, but I don't think we know how to tap that power. The true potential that exists within every female is more than we know. We squander talent, time, and emotions on such trivial things. Maybe if we put on a different pair of shoes... like shoes of peace. Shoes of gentleness. I am preaching to myself out of all the females on the planet. I have tons of shoes and none of them have a label such as peace, gentleness or kindness. Those just aren't my style.

What if we were called to wear shoes we didn't like or didn't think meshed with our style? What if you are a leader and God asks you to wear the humble follower shoes? What if you are shy and reserved and God asks you to wear dancing shoes? What if you are a social person and God asks you to live alone? Are we willing to wear shoes we don't like because God asks us to?

Every girl wants the hot shoes and to looks sexy and beautiful in that awesome shoe and that's not wrong. I'm merely contemplating woman's roles in life, in society and as Christian women. No two women will live the same life. No one Christian woman lives life perfectly. We are women. We are human. One woman can't look at another and say "That's wrong," without insight as to what God has called her to do.

"As a Christian,she shouldn't be wearing those shoes. God wouldn't approve of her wearing those shoes."

Maybe we don't need to be the fashion police for others. There is no difference between the mother of seven and the single business woman in God's eyes. He sees his daughters living lives for him. Hopefully, in paths he called them to. No woman can judge another for the shoes she wears, for you never know if she's wearing them in obedience to God.

Now I am not saying that those grandmothers' God has placed around you are not capable or aren't responsible for telling you that those shoes are plain, down right ugly and sinful. That is a job given to the spiritually mature and experienced. But if one Christian is doing something anther Christian deems wrong, we are just like the Romans when Paul wrote to them.

Romans 14:10-18 You, then, why do you judge your brother?Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: " 'As surely as I live,'says the LORD, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' "  So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the LORD Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longeracting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whomChrist died. 16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

Maybe someone does not approve of your power pumps. Maybe your best friend only ever wears flats and you prefer heels, like, all the time!! As long as you are walking in righteousness with Jesus, he'll tell you if you need to change your shoes. Whether you are wearing shoes of the power executive or a full time mommy or the eternal college kid, living in your parents basement or the freelance loner, those may be the shoes God needs you to wear.

Did God call you to wear the shoes on your feet right now? That's between you and God.

Talk to God about your shoes, ladies.

Another thing to remember about shoes is that they are not permanent. Maybe you hate the shoes you wearing right now. They'll wear out and you'll get another pair. Sometimes they're given to you, used, borrowed, new or found. But shoes change,come and go. Maybe you'll trade shoes with someone. Few shoes last more than ten years.

My shoes right now are work shoes of Patience and Trust. Not really my style. I'd rather have flirty and fun shoes like Delight or Joy or powerful shoes of Judgment and Justice, but I've been called to Striving shoes.

The Bible tells us the Christian shoes are part of our daily armor, they are of the Gospel of Peace (Gal. 6:10-19).

My shoes are usually of the Gospel of Riotous Drama. I'm praying I don't end up with peaceful shoes anytime soon. Because not only do we learn peace and grace, but we need to pass it on to those we meet.

Are we willing to wear whatever shoes life and God bring us to?

Ladies, maybe God has the best deal for us on a pair of comfy, sexy shoes. Just to die for. Wouldn't it be worth asking? There is a chance you won't like the shoes he gives you, but it could be one amazing adventure in his given shoes. Maybe my next great shoe buy is just around the corner...

08/2010