in mommies shoes

Did you shuffle around wearing your mommy's shoes when you were young?

Did you dress up and twirl in the mirror wishing to grow up tomorrow?

Did you hold your baby dolls tight to your tummy and whisper to yourself, 

"I'm going to be just like my mommy when I get big"?

Did you try on her make-up when she wasn't looking to emulate her beauty and maturity on your face?

Did you make mud pie's and pretend they were your mommy's fresh baked strawberry rhubarb pie?

Were you sitting close watching your mother glide polish on her nails and as it glistened in the light wishing yours looked so pretty, but instead dirt was wedged under yours from baking mud pies that afternoon? 

Some of us women may spend a lifetime modelling ourselves after our mother's, to seek a lifetime of approval.

Some of us may wish upon a star or pray till there are not a single tear left, that our mother would be pleased by our performance. 

"Look Mom, look at me, am I your favourite now?"

"Am I pretty now?" 

Are we meant to fit our mother's shoes?

As a grown woman, even married and perhaps with our own children; 

how do we look on the inside?

Are you a little girl still seeking to earn her mother's approval?

Is the name Jesus familiar to you?

If it is then let's take a stroll in His shoes for a while.

Put them on...

It may look like the ugly sister's big gnarly toes trying to gracefully slide her feet into that glass slipper, but keep going.

There, they fit! Surprisingly well, don't they.

Try walking around in them and tell me how they feel.

Do you notice that you are walking, not stumbling or sliding for fear you'll tumble.

Have you felt that little kick in your step yet?

Do you feel a graceful strength in each step you take, like these shoes were meant for you? 

Now stop walking and take them off, put back on your mom's pretty sparkly shoes, you know, the ones that make you look like her, and try walking and tell my how they feel.

Be honest. 

Are your toes squished, are blisters beginning to form on your heel?

Walking around in another set of shoes that clearly don't fit you are definitely difficult, yes? 

Let me tell you something.

We should want to be like the father. To be holy and set apart, like Jesus. We should be eager to mirror his steps, his love, his grace. Not a human being, because that's really what our parents are, human. 

He loves us and hey, His shoes fit, so why not put those puppies back on and give another stroll around. Feels good, doesn't it. I knew it would... I knew it would. Now start dancing into your freedom! Freedom in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners,
 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
   and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
  and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
   instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
   instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   a planting of the LORD
   for the display of his splendor.

You are a display of his splendor

Let's walk in his shoes together together