Thursday, April 16, 2020

Forgotten Shoes

My very favorite pair of sneakers had come to the end of its road.  Now truth be told, I am not a big sneakers person, but I had had these for a while and they had been with me through many seasons of life.  Then, the last time I wore them, I had that sensation, when the soles of your shoes decide to go their own way.  I was sad to say goodbye to them, but I realized I needed to get a replacement pair so as to keep up with my exercising (it is definitely not one of my favorite things to do, and so I needed no excuses 😉😀).

When I searched online for a new pair of cross trainers, a few options came up.  As I was scrolling through them, I realized that a pair looked very familiar, and after a closer look, I remembered that I actually did have a pair of those same sneakers, except they were buried way back under stuff.  I had gotten them a while back, but had not really taken to them like my faves, and they had soon been forgotten.

I was surprised at the cost I saw on the website for them, because I know this Sales Queen here, did not pay that much for hers.  N-o-p-e 😃.  Seeing their price gave me a renewed appreciation for the hitherto forgotten sneakers (plus I sure was glad I did not have to spend that much on a new pair).  Erm, may I please clarify that we are not talking about any high end sneakers here, maybe the bottom of middle end even 😳.

Afterwards, while I was dusting them off and getting them ready, it hit me that my regard for the sneakers went up once I saw their price online, and that I had totally discounted them previously.  I was ashamed when I further realized that, similarly, there are many times I have undervalued what I have, including, sadly, the gifts and talents that GOD has given me, because I have not seen their price, their worth, their value - because there has been no external validation.  This has led me to allow these gifts and talents to sit dormant or be buried under stuff, while they wait, hopefully, to one day be dusted off and used for HIS glory.

The story of Moses in Exodus 4 kept coming to mind, particularly a question the LORD asked Moses, when he kept bringing up reasons (excuses) for why he was ill-equipped to do what the LORD was asking,

"What is that in your hand?" (Exodus 4:2a, NIV, biblegateway.com)

Then a song that includes that same question, by Alvin Slaughter, also kept streaming through my mind:

What's that you have in your hand
I can use it, if you are willing to lose it
Take the little you have and make it grand
I AM EL SHADDAI, and I'll more than supply your need...

GOD was reminding me, and you, that nothing HE gives is too small, too insignificant, and that if we will take what HE gives, and lift it up, or lay it down, for HIM, its true worth will always shine forth, whether people acknowledge it or not.

Zechariah 4:8-10 (MSG, biblegateway.com) says, 

"After that, the Word of God came to me: “Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!"

We must remember that whatever our gift, whether big, small, or in-between, it is more than sufficient for use in our FATHER's service!

So what do you have in your hand?  No matter what, GOD can use it, and You.  HE's got You 😊

Be Blessed 🙏,

AAA


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