First it was me that needed to say Owwww! Then I heard another story of another Owwww!
My story begins a couple of years ago. I needed to have winter shoes that I could put on by just sliding into them. I could not lift my foot to be able to put on a normal style shoe and lifting my foot to be able to get into a snow boot would have been nearly impossible. I already had two new pairs of snow boots that had become unusable to me. While I am not a good online shopper, I know someone, really several people, who are very good at finding things for me and love to shop for me! This time, it didn’t take long at all to find just what I needed—waterproof, warm lining, and easy to slide into shoes. I could go out and about with dry warm feet! Fast forward to this year! It has been an unusual winter—warm then cold and then back to warm. Dry, then snow, then freezing fog and rain, more snow and sometimes very brown and dry and cold. I didn’t need my snow “shoes” at first. Then came the weather that made me want them. I looked, looked some more and looked again in all the places they should have been. I had put them away—too good. I could not find them anywhere. Finally, the day came when we received several inches of snow and I began to complain about my lack of proper snow “shoes”. Kneeling on the floor isn’t something that I can do unless I can kneel on a piece of thick foam to keep the pain durable. Kneeling for my husband is possible but he needs something firm to brace on to be able to get back up. Together, we both have problems that don’t complement each other! But his desire to help and make my life easier out of for me sent him on a mission to find the missing shoes. That love reminds me of the love that God has for us! Jesus gave His best for me to give me something that I need—salvation from this cold sinful world. He gave out of love for me. I was able to tell Garry the places I had looked so he looked where I had not been able to look—far back under the bed on top of a box that permanently lives under our bed. There is no better place for it in our home but how did my shoes get on top of that box? It is a mystery that neither of us can answer. But I was so happy to see the missing snow “shoes”! I am sure that my happiness does not even come close to the happiness of God knowing that someone lost is found and comes back to His arms for warmth and safety and care. Keeping my feet warm and dry was so good! The lost was found. The missing was found, rescued, and returned to me! More examples of God searching and finding and rescuing! I am glad that God searches for me when I go missing from Him at times. I am glad that He rescues me and keeps me in his sight every day.
I have a habit of sliding out of my shoes when I come in from outside and leaving them where they often are in the way of others. Or I leave them out of the way but not put away properly. They are “handy” the next time I want them, if I can find them. A couple of weeks ago, I put my newly found shoes on, then went out to the car to be on our way to church. During the ride, I realized that these shoes that I hadn’t worn since last year were making my foot hurt. I briefly wondered what had changed? During church I took the shoes off while I was seated in the pew to relieve my pain. When church was over, I put them back on and we prepared to leave. I was reminded again that those shoes were not comfortable at all. The pain was much stronger now since my sore toes were now feeling the pain more and more. Can you guess what the first thing I did when we got home? Your guess is no doubt right. I took the offending shoe off! And put my hand in it to find out what had changed this winter from the last time I wore them! And I made a discovery!
To understand this story properly, you need to know that we have a cat we call Miss Kitty. Miss Kitty loves to play—but usually at night, when we are in bed asleep, and she plays by herself—we think! We have given her various toys that she moves around from place to place, from upstairs to downstairs and back again. She has a small toy rabbit, a small blue sparkly pompom, a black pompom, a white one and a purple one. It is always fun to see where they will be next the next morning. Sometimes we have to retrieve them from under the kitchen desk. Sometimes they stay in one place for days and then suddenly they are in a new place far away from the last place we saw them. She carries them around like a dog would carry his tennis ball toys. Are they pretend mice for her? For whatever reason, she has fun with them—we think!
When I reached into my painful shoe, I did not discover the wrinkle in the warm winter lining that I was expecting. That wasn’t what was making my toes so sore! Instead, I found the purple pompom tucked deep into the toes of my shoe! What a trick Miss Kitty had played on me. She had hidden her “purple mouse” in my shoe. I had put it on not expecting to have to search for invading mice! I was glad to find a pompom and not something far worse!
Telling this story to family was fun. But it prompted another story for me to hear. This story involved a daddy, a small boy, and a grandma “Grammer”. One Sabbath morning, a small boy was getting ready to go with his mommy and daddy to their church and his Sabbath School. He still needs some help getting his clothes on just right! He can put his shoes on all by himself when dressing. But this time, Daddy handed him his shoes and as he did, he quietly placed a small flat pocketknife into one of the shoes. He was expecting to have the knife immediately discovered. But nothing was said! This little boy really enjoys his Sabbath School! He has a great teacher who makes SS lots of fun. Then Sabbath School was over and it was time for church. This small boy is very lucky—when Mommy and Daddy are busy with church things, his grandma and grandpa are there for him to sit with and have their love care. When church was over and the little boy was going to leave with his grandma, he only then said, “Grammer, my foot hurts!” Grandmas love to help their grandsons!! So, it wasn’t long before she had helped him remove his shoe to discover why it was hurting! In the shoe was—the small knife! And the surprise was found out! Mischievous Daddy had played a Sabbath morning trick. Both the little boy and I had the same problem. We both put up with some pain for several hours. We could have solved the problem and gone pain free much sooner, if only we had stopped sooner to find out the reason.
I thought there must be some lessons to learn from these two stories. What I learned has some good messages for everyone to think about. I discovered the spiritual application of having shoes that hurt can remind us to think about the direction of one’s life. Or it can sort of be a warning that one’s current path forward might not be suited for them. The pain can be time to pause, re-evaluate, and take the time to make sure there are no bumps in my daily life, that the path that I am following by putting my feet on is the correct path. A pain in my shoe or my foot should make me stop and think about my life and the direction I’m currently going, moving on in life might not be right for me. Like the grandma removing the painful object, God may need to reach into my life and remove what is causing me pain. Physical discomfort is a good time to literally pause, stop or slow down, and prompt me to consider whether my current life journey aligns with my spiritual purpose in my daily walk, where I am headed each day. Just as an ill-fitting shoe causes physical distress, current life situations, job, or relationships may be a “bad fit” for my spirit and causes me inner friction and pain. In the Bible, the “feet fitted with the preparation of the Gospel of peace” are part of the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:15). Foot pain can indicate that I might lack spiritual peace or maybe I am struggling with anxiety and worry. The “right shoes” provide a firm, peaceful foundation for navigating life’s battles. Hurting feet suggest my spiritual “footwear” may be inadequate, leaving me vulnerable to obstacles or “pebbles” on my path (the pebbles could represent the minor problems that are causing me pain). It can be a reminder to put on the full spiritual armor and that I can trust in God’s protection. The pain could be prompting me to seek divine intervention and guidance.
Just as physical pain can require a doctor’s visit, spiritual “foot pain” calls for seeking help from a grandma, from a husband, from a daddy, from another spiritual mentor, or from God. It can be a reminder for me to pray for my steps to be ordered by the Lord and for divine guidance in my daily walk and actions.
When we confront obstacles during the day, our feet may be the first to know it. The spiritual meaning of foot pain is in our direction and the path we’re on. Our feet carry us through our lives. They hold our weight, help us find our balance, and give us the means to move forward in our lives.
There are plenty of types of foot pain. Bunions, plantar fasciitis, or even stubbed toes can give us pause. What are my feet trying to tell me? These Feet Were Made for Talkin’. When there is mysterious pain in the body, it can be helpful to think about what that part of our bodies means to us. Our feet are our means of getting around. Put one foot in front of the other, literally and symbolically, and you’ll get somewhere. It might be a good time to ask yourself about the direction your life is taking. Where are you going—or not going? Is something happening too fast? Is something changing in your life that doesn’t feel right? How can I slow down? Can you hit the brakes and stop the changes that don’t feel good?
Stubbing your toes is very common and always a painful surprise. A stubbed toe is sort of like a spiritual obstacle in your way that you’re bumping up against. Where am I trying to go? What obstacles are in my way? Which of these obstacles did God place in my way? And why? How can I remove these obstacles—and do I want to?
When my feet speak up in pain, they are asking me to slow down and evaluate how I’m going/doing and the direction I’m going in. The spiritual meaning of foot pain is a question of my chosen path and what else is on it. When we feel safe enough where we currently are, then my feet will be ready to take me forward.
There’s “Something in My Shoe”! A pain in my shoe could be a pompom, a knife, stone, a persistent, uncomfortable spiritual “stone” that God places to prompt growth or a call to examine our own walk and judgment before we criticize others. Jesus became human to truly understand our struggles, pains, and temptations, showing ultimate compassion. Before I judge someone, I should try to see life from their perspective and experiences, try to walk in their shoes. Like putting on shoes for the day’s journey, we must actively put on the truth of the Gospel each day to begin our walk with God.
A difficult truth or question is like a “stone” that God allows to challenge you, prompting to deeper reflection and growth. Or maybe God wants me to think about the answers to some “stony” questions.
Is there a sin or an attitude (a “stone”) in your own spiritual shoe that you need to deal with before focusing on other’s problems?
Whose “shoes” do I need to try on today to better understand them?
What pompom or knife or “stone” is God putting in my shoe to make me uncomfortable enough to change and remove it?
Am I wearing the “shoes of peace,” or am I tripping over my own impatience and judgment?
Have you ever had a rock get into your shoe? Maybe you can relate to this lady’s story:
“While on my morning walk, I noticed something uncomfortable in my right shoe. It wasn’t enough to alter my pace, so I just ignored it and kept walking. When I got home, I noticed it again, but didn’t stop to do anything about it because there were dishes to wash and a letter to write before the mailman came.
Whatever it was, it began rolling around by my toes, until I couldn’t ignore it any longer. I stopped what I was doing and took off my shoe…out rolled a tiny pebble. Tossing it into the trash can, I couldn’t help feeling silly for walking all morning with a rock in my shoe– knowing it was there! I was reminded of other things tolerated in my life, things that don’t belong there and sometimes cause pain or discomfort. Little sins like irritability or impatience that so quietly creep into my heart. They aren’t hidden, I can feel them there. They keep rolling around in my attitude until enough discomfort is created that I decide to dump them out to God. How much wiser it would have been if I had stopped and removed the pebble this morning the moment it was first noticed. And how much less heart ache would be caused for each of us and the people along our paths if we stopped and emptied out our hearts of those wrong attitudes the moment the Holy Spirit brought them to our attention.”
“Father, forgive me for tolerating things I should be removing from my life. Those little pebbles can be worse than big boulders because I tend to ignore them. To you they are all the same–sin! Thank you, God, that at any time I can pour them out before You in prayer, and you lovingly forgive me. Thank you for the lesson you spoke into my life today through a rock in my shoe. Amen”
There’s Something in My Shoe—I need to stop and remove it!