Friday, January 29, 2010

My Shoes

People always say don’t judge someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes. I think this is so true. I walk past people and I wonder what heartache have they faced in their lifetime? What thing has brought them to their knees? I look at the world so very differently now. I wonder about other peoples stories. I wonder what kind of shoes they are wearing? I have learned  not to judge people, you never know what kind of shoes they might be walking around in. I am thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ, I know that he has walked in all of our shoes and I know he understands the unseen pain that each heart holds. I know that only he understands what it is like to wear my shoes. He was the only one willing to wear them for me.

 

Would you walk in my shoes?

I am wearing a pair of shoes.
They are ugly shoes,
Uncomfortable shoes,
I hate my shoes.
Each day I wear them, and each day I wish I had another pair.
Some days my shoes hurt so bad that i do not think i can take another step.
Yet, I continue to wear them.
I get funny looks wearing these shoes.
They are looks of sympathy.
I can tell in other’s eyes that they are glad they are my shoes and not theirs.
They never talk about my shoes.
To learn how awful my shoes are might make them uncomfortable.
To truly understand these shoes you must walk in them.
But, once you put them on, you can never take them off.
I now realize that I am not the only one who wears these shoes.
There are many pairs in this world.
Some people are like me and ache daily as they try to walk in them.
Some have learned how to walk in them so that they don’t hurt quite so much.
Some have worn the shoes so long that days will go by before they think about how much they hurt.
No-one deserves to wear these shoes.
Yet, because of these shoes I am a stronger person - apparently.
These shoes have given me the strength to face anything.
They have made me who I am.
I will forever walk in the shoes of a parent who has lost a child.

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9 comments:

Cheryl said...

Hello,

I've seen that shoe poem before, but thanks for posting it. I really read it through this time.

That was a beautiful post...and so true.

I keep trying to focus on the eternal and it makes the trials of this world seem a little more bearable.

Love and hope to you, my friend,
Cheryl
We are Nine

Sharron said...

Thank you Crystal. I have been struggling with some issues that seem to be a life long millstone around my neck and I really needed this to make me think.

You continue to be in our prayers daily. We love all of you!

Jessica Caldwell said...

Thanks for the post, sometimes we do forget that other people have and are still walking in their shoes. I wish everyday that this pair of shoes you are walking in never happened. But for what it's worth you have walked in them with honor Heavenly Father and Sage are so proud of you.

Mariah said...

What a good reminder to us all, we never know what kind of shoes someone else is wearing. Your family is in our thoughts many times a day and our prayers daily. We love you.

Kelly said...

What a neat post. I think about that all the time. I have thought about posting about it. You did such a great job with the subject. It's no consolation, but at least being in such pain opens our eyes to the world around us. I think it brings you closer to all the people hurting... and that is, I KNOW what the Savior wants us to do. If only we could love perfectly having never needed perfect love ourselves. If only we would be unselfish without loss. I am not that good I guess...
Thanks for your comment on my blog. I loved it. So did my husband. He was so grateful to see support. I think hewas relieved for me to have some!

Kelly said...

oh, I forgot! How do I make a slideshow like you did? I have often wanted to post funeral pics in that fashion so as not to take up so much space on the page...

Melanie and Jarom said...

crystal,
thanks for this post. I am amazed at how you are so able to continue to think of others in this super hard time in your life. I mean you came visiting teaching to me and you probably have been doing that ever since cause thats just how you are. Right now I just wanted to run from my kids and hide because they are being big stinkers but reading your blog I just feel refreshed with new patience. So thanks for being you! Sage is a lucky little man!

Mama Byrd said...

I don't know how to get in contact with you otherwise but I wanted to pass this on to you, since you are having another I thought this may bring you comfort somehow and test the new baby.
http://www.boston.com/community/moms/articles/2010/02/02/scientists_link_serotonin_deficit_to_sids/

Anonymous said...

Crystal,
I love the way you wrote about how Christ has walked in our shoes. I bet that walk in that picture was one of the most difficult. I know Heavenly Father and our big brother Jesus cried that day for you. I love you.