Redeem My Soul (Feb 13, 2024)

 “So… is this for, like, kids that need shoes?”

He looked at me as the realization dawned on him. Why he was called to his middle school gym, why there were boxes & boxes of shoes on the floor, why some of his peers were lined up in chairs, & why volunteers, like me, were kneeling at their feet.

Sensing his growing embarrassment, I said, “Yeah, we’re just giving away a bunch of new shoes! Let me help you try some on!”

He was not fooled.

He knew.

He knew why he was one of those 113 kids carefully selected by the school counselors & pulled out of class.

He knew he was one of the poor kids.

He knew, & he was humiliated.

With fragile dignity, he tried to save face, “Well, I don’t need shoes. No, I got like 10 more pairs at home. They’re all like $300 shoes.”

I was not fooled.

My heart was like: Please let your guard down. Take the free shoes 🙏

I convinced him to try on a pair. “You could just save them for later!” I grabbed him two boxes to try, & I could tell immediately that he liked one pair.

He mumbled, “Well, maybe I’ll take those.”

And he did. He slid off his old, worn shoes, tried them on, said, “yeah, I’ll take them,” & he was gone.

I’ve been thinking about him all day. And everything about what I experienced with Shoes 4 the Shoeless.

I thought of Jesus Christ, who knelt before others & touched their dirty, tired feet & washed them.

Today I felt Him as I crouched at the feet of others & removed dirty, worn socks & shoes.

But how many times am I the one in the chair saying, no, I got this, I’m fine, I don’t need them, this is for OTHER people, not for me! I’m cool! Trying to be convincing. But knowing in my heart that I. need. help.

“Are we not all beggars?” -Mos. 4:19

It’s right in front of us. Christ’s gift, freely given. His love, his strength, his power, his healing. He kneels at our feet, saying: let me take your dirty old shoes. With holes. Two sizes too small. Definitely not suitable for winter. Here are new ones that will protect you. Comfort you. Change you. And last forever.

“O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou encircle me around in the robe (or shoes!) of thy righteousness?” -2 Ne. 4:31,33

Just take the free shoes🙏