Christmas Shoes

I'm sure you've all heard the song about the Christmas shoes.  No matter how many times I hear it I still get tears in my eyes.

Yesterday God showed up in my life in a VERY big way and I want to share it with you and hopefully it will re-ignite your faith as it did mine.

For the past month I have been studying to become a school bus driver.  Yes, studying is the word.  I don't know when I've ever worked so hard at something!  I needed to get my CDL class B drivers license.  In order to do that I had to first study the state book and take written tests in general knowledge, passengers, school bus and then air brakes.  After passing each of those I was issued a learner's permit.

From there (I had already been approved by our school administration) I was to go through atleast 40 hours of on job training.  Now for those of you who know me -- you know the truck I drive is already over half the size of a bus anyway -- so the actual driving came very easy -- much to the surprise of my instructor.

The hard part?  Learning the 8 single spaced, type written pages of memorization!!!!  Yes, 8 pages!  I had to learn all the parts of the steering linkage, suspension, brakes, tires, drive shaft, exhaust, all the emergency exit details, all the lighting systems, everything inside the bus along with the panels and finally perform a 4 point air brake test ---- not to mention learning to back up (straight) for 100 feet, back up at and angle and park and the real kicker ---- parallell park that thing!!!!!

Needless to say my stress level has been over the top as I may know how to drive but it's my brother in Florida who knows all the mechanical stuff!

I have studied, I have stammered, I have had total lapses in memory, I have tried and tried and cried and cried --- and finally it came time to schedule my testing in Indianapolis.  At that testing I must recite all those 8 pages, perform the 2 backing procedures and parallel park --- before ever even getting inside to do the actual street driving portion!  My nerves were shot!

I know I was the only student who had scriptures written all over my 8 pages and would recite them many times each day. 

I had jokingly told everyone I know that when yesterday morning arrived I would need all God's attention along with every single one of His angels to get through the testing.  Inside I wasn't kidding!

I had asked my Tuesday morning Bible study group to pray for me, I had gone up after service on Sunday and asked Cheryl to pray for me -- Monty had prayed for me that morning --- and he prayed for the testing person (whoever that was to be) -- which I thought a bit weird -- but that's Monty!

Results?  I PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The tester was a wonderful man who I actually thanked at the end of the test!

Even after driving home and rushing to tell Monty the news, calling my mom and everyone else I could to thank them for their prayers -- I still could not get my nerves to calm down.

So . . . I decided to stop at Goodwill and see if I could find another fleece jacket style thing for Ms Gladys as she only has one (and the red one I had found the day before) and she not only wears it all day long -- she sleeps in it!

I was strolling through the aisles and came to the conclusion that everyone else wanted the same thing -- couldn't find a single one.

As I was strolling I looked up --- for whatever reason -- and realized that they had moved their shoe display to above all the clothing racks. 

It was then that I saw them -- THOSE shoes!

For the past nearly 7 years (yes, years!!) I have wanted this certain pair of shoes.  Their "quite a few dollars more than 100 has prevented that from happening!  After all, there are people without floors and I had good shoes on my feet!  And just a few days ago Monty offered to buy them for me for Christmas ---he was willing to use his small bonus check on me!!!???   Even though that offer was so tempting that "something" (Someone) told me "no, just wait."  Even Monty wasn't sure why I wanted to wait -- and I really didn't want to!  But . . . I didn't even try them on and off we went.

Now --- I look up and there they are --- THOSE shoes!   My first thought was how they looked brand new!  Then my doubful self showed up and I found myself thinking that they would never be my size!  Wrong!!!!  They were my exact size!  And they did look brand new -- don't think they've been worn more than once!  And the price?   $4.29 !!!!!!!!!!

Then I realized just why God had told me to wait.  He had the perfect plan.  He wasn't keeping me from having the shoes all these years -- He was just telling me to wait -- for the perfect time!   He knew these were so much more than just a pair of shoes.  They were His special gift -- at just the time I needed it -- to let me know just how much He really does love me and that I really am His special child! 

7 years might seem like a long time to wait --- but every single day of every single year became worth every single second yesterday as I put those shoes in my cart and got change back from my $5 bill and texted Monty that God had just given me one of the most precious gifts ever!  Yes, they are just a pair of leather shoes -- but they are so much more!  They are life!  They are a renewal of my faith!  They are the "feet" of Jesus -- given to me -- by Him -- to continue serving Him in every way possible!  I plan to be buried in those shoes!!!!!!  

So . . . if you've been waiting --- if you've been doubting --- if you've just been wondering if there really is a God and if there is --- does He really know what's going on with you --- does He really love you like everyone else says He does --- HE DOES!!!! 

He showed me that yesterday (again) and I will never forget it.  Yes, I will most likely doubt it again and again --- but all I have to do is look at my Christmas shoes and . . . I WILL BELIEVE!!!

I pray you will know His love and provision in an even more tangible way than I just did yesterday.

Lord, Thank You!  I love you right back!!!!

Until next time . . . I AM A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER AND GOD LOVES ME!

Merry Christmas to ME!!!!                                                Susan and Monty