Wasted Time

I wasted an hour.
Time is precious and I wasted it.
It is not often I do that, but when I do, it bothers me.
I wasted an hour over something that was unimportant.

I bought a pair of felt clogs a month ago that I was using as slippers.
I would put them on as soon as I got home.
They were so comfortable.
I enjoyed slipping them on and kicking them off with ease.

Over the weekend, I kept noticing pieces of something on my kitchen floor.
I wondered who was tracking something in the house on their shoes.
I was silently annoyed at whoever the culprit was, as I picked up the pieces.
Over and over I did that throughout the afternoon.

Something caught my eye.
I looked down at my own shoe.
Something was sticking out along the side.
I took off my month old felt clogs/slippers.

The cork bottom was separating from the rubber sole.
I looked at the other shoe.
I was happening on that side as well.
The culprit was me all along.

I called the store where I purchased the clogs to see if they had another pair in my size.
They did not.
In fact, there was none in my size in any other color either.
Just bring the shoes back with your receipt for a refund, the man said.

I was disappointed.
I really liked these clogs that I was using as slippers.
Even one of my daughters remarked about how comfortable they looked.
I put them back in the bag and got my receipt to make the return this week.

These clogs were reproductions.
These clogs looked like the clogs that are made in Germany and much more expensive.
You get what you pay for, the cynic would say.
In this case the cynic would be right.

I sat down at my laptop knowing that I had a zillion things I needed to do.
I only intended to spend about fifteen minutes looking for the actual German clogs.
I was amazed at how expensive they were.
I knew that in my head, but when I actually looked at them to buy them, I thought twice.

I could hear my husband.
Just get them; don’t worry about the cost if it is something you need.
That is where I struggled.
I did not need the clogs and in my mind, I could not justify the cost.

I searched all over to see if there were any sales or any discounts.
Even the website with the smile on the box was expensive.
The shipping alone, from Germany, added another $22.00.
It was then I found them.

I found a secure website that had the German clogs significantly less than other sites.
Shipping was free if your total was over a certain amount.
There was even a $5.00 discount for joining their mailing list.
I put the clogs in my cart, and got the $5.00 discount.

I was ready to order the clogs until I read the fine print.
There, so small that you could easily miss it, was a disclaimer.
Yes, the price was great; yes, the shipping was free.
However, outside the EU, there could be a duty tax or additional shipping cost upon delivery.

I knew it was too good to be true.
I removed the shoe from my cart.
I never completed the sale.
I was disappointed that I gave my email so readily to sign up for their newsletter.

I cleared my cart.
I checked my email and already had three emails from their company.
The emails were about special promotions.
The emails were about special sales.

I looked up at the clock on the stove and saw that one hour had passed.
I was so annoyed that I wasted so much time.
The wasted time was not even fruitful.
In my attempt to be economical, I wasted not money, but a more important commodity.

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,  to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4,5)

God wasted no time.
When the time had fully come, God sent His Son.
There was no fine print.
There were no surprises.

God knew the perfect time to step into history.
It was His plan all along.
God set up His plan of redemption before the creation of the world.
God is never late.

God is outside of time.
Time is something that was made for us who live in the confines of time.
Time is not to be wasted.
Time is to be used for Him.

I wasted an hour of my time looking for clogs.
That hour could have been used much more productively.
Perhaps the lesson I learned is even more important.
Time is precious and it is not to be wasted.

I was the culprit all along.
I wasted an hour to find a pair of shoes.
I had nothing to show for the time spent.
And I still need a new pair of clogs.