The Visited Shoes

They were absolutely gorgeous, these shoes sitting on the counter in the store.  Their shiny, burgundy leather caught my eye from the very start, but once I had tried them on, it was love.  There was only one thing I didn't like about them. . .the price tag.  They were just more than I was used to paying for shoes and I couldn't bring myself to buy them.  I left them on the shelf and walked out of the store.

For several weeks I "visited" those shoes.  At least every couple of weeks, usually after payday, I would return to the store.  I might have said I was looking for something else, but I always knew I was looking for those shoes.  I never went to the shoe department first, though, I have always liked to save the best for last.  After I had done the rest of my shopping, then I would go to the shoe department and look at them.  Often I would try them on yet again.  They still looked just as good as they had before, and the price tag still prohibitive to purchasing.

My husband urged me to buy them, but I just couldn't justify spending that much money on a pair of shoes, especially when I already have plenty of shoes.  Again, I left them on the shelf and walked out empty handed.

Then one day, I think shortly after receiving a bonus at work, I decided I was definitely going to buy those shoes.  This time I went straight to the shoe department and headed right to the shelf where "my" shoes lived.  Only they didn't have my size anymore.  I tried on the size above mine, too big.  I tried on the size below mine, too small. They had my size in the black version, and I tried them on, but they weren't nearly as beautiful as the burgundy ones.  Yet again, I left the story empty handed, but this time much more disappointed.

I hadn't thought about those shoes in months.  In fact, I hadn't visited that store much since then, but we went there yesterday.  I shopped around without finding anything that interested me, and then as usual, I headed to the shoe department.  I looked around and then passed by the clearance table.  I was shocked to see four boxes of the gorgeous burgundy shoes piled up on the clearance table.  None of them were my size.  I tried on the largest size in the stack, the one sitting on top, not expecting them to come close to fitting.  I was shocked when they fit perfectly!  There is no way that shoe has the correct size on it, because I know my foot has not shrunk in a few months.

Then I looked at the sign on the table.  Originally the items on the table were 50% off, but this day they were an additional 25% off as well.  I walked out of the store carrying my gorgeous shoes after only paying a fraction of what I had expected to months before.

There are many who might argue with me that all of this is a coincidence, but their arguments would be in vain.  I don't believe that our Lord deals much in coincidences.  I do, however, believe that He knows and cares of the desires and hopes of His children, and He seeks to satisfy those desires as much as He can.  If we know how to "give good gifts" to our children, "how much more shall your Father which is heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" (Matthew 7:11.)

No, I don't think it is any coincidence that the shoes that are obviously the wrong size for the box, but the perfect size for me, were sitting on the top of the stack on the sale table.  I also don't think it was a coincidence that they were sitting there the very day we decided to go back that store for the first time in weeks.

I do think, though, every time I look down at my beautiful burgundy shoes I will be reminded of just how much my Heavenly Father loves me.  I do think I will be reminded that there is no detail in our lives that escapes His notice, His care or His concern.

Psalms 145:16

"Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing."