Continue to be Grateful

As I thought about yesterday’s message, a funny story came to my mind. When I was in the 5^th or 6^th grade, my mom sent me shoe shopping with my dad. (Big mistake… huge. LOL… sorry dad). Since I attended a private school, the shoes had to be black lace-ups. Of course I was hoping for something fashionable, but my dad’s goal was something else. That’s right… you guessed it – durability.

After trying on a couple pairs, he found a pair of wingtip type black lace-ups. He bent them, checked the stitching and felt they were shoes that would last. I wasn’t a fan of them, but being the obedient child that I was I consented to trying them on. As the salesperson returned from the back, I felt relief when they said the store had no more of that style in my size. Unfortunately, my dad wasn’t giving up as easily. He decided that I should try on the next available size. I’m sure you could imagine what I looked like, trying on these wingtip shoes there were a full size too big. But for dad, he made out like a bandit. The way he figured it, these shoes could last me two years, rather than one; which would save money long term.  I tried to explain to him how easily I could take the shoes off without pulling the laces and the possibility of them flying off my feet as I played during recess; neither of these situations helped my case. His solution – wear an extra pair of socks.

Needless to say, I ended up with those shoes. They not only survived that 5^th or 6^th grade school year, but they made it through to 8^th grade. The only reason I didn’t have them for high school, was because the bottom had rubbed out from me playing in them during recess.

My message to you this morning is – “Continue to be Grateful.”

I know my dad meant well in buying those shoes for me. It’s a joke in my family, to this day. And he still thinks it was a good decision!!

There are two simple lessons here. The first is that I had my father to take me shoe shopping. Not just for that day, but for many other instances. There are so many children living in single-parent homes, not because one has passed away, but because someone has neglected to take responsibility for their actions. To those who have children and those who hope to have in the future, do your best to care for them and buy them shoes one size too big. The second lesson is to be grateful in the small things. All over the world and even in our neighborhoods, children attend school without the essentials. Some may have clothes, but no breakfast, others have food, but no school supplies.

So in all things, regardless of how big your shoes are, continue to be grateful.