Her Shoes

This week I’m getting a taste of what it’s like being a mother and I’m developing a new appreciation for the species.

About a couple of months ago I had the brilliant idea to sign up my 2 nephews to a week long day camp at one of our church campuses. I thought my sister would be thrilled. She was, except for her reminding me that the camp was at least 30 minutes away and began the same time her work day started. Ugh.

Too stubborn to cancel, I figured I’d do it. Easy. Plus I wanted to show my sister how it’s done.

Ha.

What I forgot was that the drive was 30 minutes each way, back and forth, twice a day.

And I didn’t take into account the 1600 other munchkins who would be crawling around the camp ground smelling like kids at camp at every turn. Nor the fact that one of my nephews would get sick and need me to stick around most of the day yesterday. Nor the obnoxious parking attendants who revel in asking me to slow down even though I’m driving 10 miles an hour far away from any moving object.

And I’m not even doing the laundry!

It’s only day 2 and I’m surviving. But moms, I’ve also grown in my understanding of what you do. And it ain’t always pretty!

Here’s a piece of advice for the rest of you: if you want to know what someone is going through, put yourself in his/her shoes.

There’s no better way to really get it until you go through it.

That’s why cancer survivors are the best advocates and counselors for those going through a major illness.

Walk a mile in my shoes. That’s all most of us ask for in life when we’re going through a rough patch.

And that’s why Jesus came to earth.

Philippians 2: 6-8 says it this way:

“who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”.

Jesus gets our life. He gets what we’re going through. In Hebrews He’s the high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses because he has been tempted just like us, but of course didn’t sin (Hebrews 2:17-18 and Hebrews 4:14-16).

Are you going through a rough patch?

Are you looking for someone who gets it?

Do you need a shoulder to lean on?

Go to God. He’s been where you are. He gets it.

Or maybe you’re wondering why you’re having to drive a couple of munchkins to a smelly camp so early in the morning. Maybe you can’t figure out why you’re having to endure these difficult days.

Just think – God may be preparing you for just that one person who will need you to understand what it’s like being a mom.

You won’t understand until you walk a mile in her shoes.

So straighten up and walk on. You’re not alone in it!

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