There is the saying that you shouldn’t and can’t judge another until you have walked a mile in their shoes.  While I agree, there are times when we can see the journey they have had by their shoes.  We can assume how difficult their life may have been.  

I work in a grocery store in SW Florida.  A couple of days ago a regular customer was doing some shopping.  This woman would only catch your attention because of her ragged clothes, unwashed hair and the odor permeating from her body.  She is elderly and always kind.  If you took the time to look, you would definitely notice her shoes.  Shoes that most would have thrown out many years, many miles ago.  Shoes almost as heartbreaking as the ones pictured above.

If I had to judge this woman based on her shoes, I would say she has had a difficult life.  Most of the sole is gone, the leather is torn and tattered. They barely resemble sandals at all.  You can see where she has tried to mend them with duct tape.  On this particular day, myself and another associate looked at her shoes with out hearts and devised a plan.  I struck up a conversation with the lady and then just point blank ask what size shoe she wore.  I told her maybe we could exchange shoes some day.  Once the other associate heard the shoe size she quickly went with a Manager to the small section of flip-flops and Crocs that we carry.  Remember, we are a grocery store in SW Florida, so our shoe selection is limited.

The lady was on her way out the door.  I asked if I could walk her to her car and she took my hand in hers.  About half-way through the parking lot my co-worker handed me the bag with not one, but two pairs of size 6 1/2 shoes.  As I handed the shoes to the lady, she said, “I don’t believe that is mine”.  I simply said, “It is now, compliments of Publix”.  The pure delight and gratitude in her eyes brought tears to my eyes.  She hugged me and then ran the last few steps to her car so she could show her husband her new shoes.  One would have thought she had been given a million dollars.

I don’t tell this story to bring praise to myself or the other associates, but to make a point.  This lady touched our hearts that day.  Her shoes told a story.

How often in our journey, in our walk do we find our soles and souls aching for comfort.  We hold onto things in life that we should let go of.  We try mending our broken soles with duct tape and we try mending our broken souls with things of this world; sex, drugs, alcohol and many other things.  We keep certain shoes no matter their appearance because they are comfortable.  They may not be good for our feet or our posture, but for some reason we hold on to them.  We hold onto habits and people that may not be good for our soul but it is what we know and therefore comfortable. 

The night before Jesus was crucified, what did He do?  He washed the feet of His disciples.  John 13 tells it so beautifully.  The foot washing ceremony is at its root an act of love.   Washing another’s feet is an act of humility when done as Christ instructs us.  Servants used to wash their master’s feet upon returning from a journey.  Think of the sand and dirt they must have had encrusted to their feet after walking for days in only sandals.  

We may never know this lady’s story, her soul story.  But for now, she has new soles that may make the rest of her journey a little easier.  To serve as Jesus did, which is what we are taught to do,  for the benefit of another shows the deepest level of love and humility.

Go serve someone today, a stranger.  Let go of those things that are not good for your soul.  There are many great organization that you can donate your soles to and it may just make your soul a little less saddened, a lot more joyful and open to the soul-changing power of Jesus Christ.