Shoes that Cannot be Filled

When you were young, do you remember trying on grown-up shoes? I'll never forget dropping my small foot into my father's humongous fishing boots. My foot swam in them and slipped as I struggled to slide one foot in front of the other across the living room carpet. I didn't get very far, as I realized my father's shoes were ones that couldn't be filled.   

Years later, when I was grown, that didn't change. Even if I could have fit in my father's shoes, they were still too big. Plus, they were his shoes, not mine. I wanted to be like him, but as much as I tried, I was still "me." My father was extremely intelligent and gifted with a genius I.Q. I'd been adopted, so I would never possess his kind of intelligence.    

But there was more to my father than being a brilliant scientist. He had a great reverence for life, felt deeply, and was a vastly creative carpenter and artist. He could talk about any subject and possessed a most sensitive and philosophic soul. In later years, he became rooted in his faith in God.   

My father passed away too soon--at 71. My mother and I had the sad task of going through the closet to box up his clothing and shoes for donation. Those empty shoes could not be filled--at least not by me or the family. My father wasn't perfect, but he was perfect in our eyes.   

In the history of the world, there is only one perfect set of footsteps--the ones that belonged to Jesus Christ. His were the footsteps that made the arduous journey to the cross where He died to save us from the sin of all mankind.    

No one can fill the shoes (or sandals) of the Savior; however, Jesus has lovingly reached out, inviting us, encouraging us, to follow in His footsteps as He guides us on this path called life.    
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"Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen."  - Psalm 77:19  
"I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won't be held back; when you run, you won't stumble."  - Proverbs 4:11-12 

Photo: N. Johnson
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