Post--But she had wings

Years ago, when asked by my children what I wanted for Christmas, I responded "Slippers".

"Momma could really use some house shoes. Any color is fine but I DON’T want the kind with the toe cut out.” I hate those. What’s the purpose of the cut-out toe when you’re trying to keep your feet warm? They remind me of old lady slippers because, well they are old lady slippers.

Not a huge task. I felt that was easy enough right? Slippers. Any color. Correct size preferably and NOT with the toes cut out.

So you can imagine the strength it required to keep an expression of happy gratitude on my face when I opened my box to find…..old lady, toes cut out of the end, granny slippers!

Did they not listen? Did they not care? Was mom an afterthought while Christmas shopping? So the answer to those questions is at least to some extent, yes. To be fair, while my kids were old enough to share my request, they weren’t old enough to actually be the ones picking them out and purchasing them. I can’t blame them. - thanks, dear.

Nevertheless, I pulled the cardboard stuffing out of the toeless slippers and put them on. Smiling with gratitude as moms do - observing everyone delightfully moving on to the next gift to give or to open. Except for my Elizabeth, probably 5 or 6 then. She could not move beyond the slippers. “Angel, what’s wrong?” I asked. Through her tears…real tears and heartache, she said she was so sorry the slippers were wrong. They weren’t the slippers I wanted, in fact, they were the slippers I specifically did not want. And she was heartbroken. Her heart’s desire was for me to get the slippers I asked for, but she had been left out of the shopping experience. My heart then broke because I knew she’d been feeling this way ever since those slippers were brought home.

Of course, I quickly and adamantly let her know they were wonderful and that I completely understood her predicament. She had so wanted to get me exactly what I asked for and deeply, truly was broken that I did not receive the perfect gift. At that moment I fell in complete love with those slippers! I no longer cared about the cut-out toes. I no longer felt unheard. I only saw this beautiful soul in front of me and felt the depth of her love. The disappointment in my heart over the slippers. dissipated in the presence of so much wholly selfless love being shown to me.

I wore those slippers for years until they finally wore out. They brought me physical comfort. But more than that they brought my soul comfort. Every time I saw my toes peek out the ends of those shoes, I remembered the love of my daughter and the profoundness of her care for others.

To this day she is an amazing giver. Thoughtful, searching for a unique or special gift. Something truly meaningful. When all along, she is the gift.

It’s a beautiful thing to be brought from disappointment to delight. It’s even more beautiful I think to be someone that walks another through disappointment and into a place of hope.

How can I be that person to someone else? To empathize with their pain. How can I through authentic care walk them through that dark place and into a place of light, hope, faith, and love?

I can tell how. Through the perfect Gift. The greatest gift of all time is the gift of Liberty and Love found in Jesus Christ.

Praying today for sensitivity to Spirit’s leading. I want to have eyes that see beyond the surface and into real needs. I want to have hands ready to applaud, lift, hold, give, dig, and get dirty meeting those needs.

Selah