The Bride Wore Sneakers

There she was in her wedding dress.
A picture of loveliness.
A picture of purity.
She was going to walk down the aisle towards her best friend.

No one knew what she wore under her wedding dress.
Only a few people thought they got a glimpse of it as she walked.
It was the perfect thing to wear, if you knew her.
The bride wore sneakers.

I remember when I bought them for her.
This was my daughter after all, and I know her well.
There was a particular pair she thought would be perfect for her wedding day.
She knew the delicate flowers on the side of the sneaker would compliment her style.

The particular sneaker she liked was sold out.
She would have to resort to her second choice, though it really wasn’t her favorite.
I don’t give up that easily.
After searching long and hard, I did find the sneaker in her size and bought them.

I remember how exited she was when she opened the box at Christmastime.
But these were sold out, she said, so surprised she was holding them in her hand.
I know, but I found them, I said quite pleased.
I brought them home with me, at her request, to go into the closet with other wedding things.

I thought of those sneakers as we approach one month since her wedding.
I thought of the fact that no one knew they were under her dress.
She was ready for anything with those sneakers on her feet.
She could dance the night away without ever having to change her shoes.

Oh that we should be so ready.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7)

We have shoes on our feet.
We wear our shoes so that we are ready.
We must be ready to share the Gospel, the Good News, to a hurting world.
We must be ready to walk, run, jog, or sprint carrying the Good News so that others will hear.

My daughter’s dress was bustled in the back during the reception.
The bustle was there so that her train could be pulled up for ease of movement.
We, too, must be ready to move, ready to go forth because people need to hear.
We must push back the darkness.

There is so much darkness, we forget that the Light is always there.
It is always darkest before the dawn.
We are longing for Light.
We who are in Christ, know the Light of the world; however, many do not.

We feel helpless when we hear of another mass shooting.
We are angry when we learn that innocent children have died.
Why does this keep happening?
Why is there so much evil in the world?

That age old theodicy question: If God is good, why is there so much evil?
God is good, always, all the time.
Evil is in the world because of sin.
One day, there will be no more evil, no more sadness, and no more death.

One day…
How I long for that day.

Do we have our shoes on?
Do we have our clothes tucked in such a way that we have ease of movement?
Are we ready to tell the Good News of God’s love for us?
Do we know the Good News to tell others?

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

God, in His goodness, gave.
Evil takes away.

God, in His goodness, never leaves us.
Evil leaves gaping holes in families whose precious children will never come home.

God, in His goodness, cries along with us as we grieve.
Evil laughs and claims victory.

There is only one Victor.
There is only One who conquered sin and death.
There is only One who walks alongside us in our grief.
There is only One Savior, the Lord Jesus.

Our God reigns!

Bride of Christ, are you wearing your shoes?
Are you ready to sit and listen and put an arm around those who are hurting.
Are you ready to go and tell of Hope, and Love, and Forgiveness, and Mercy.
Our hurting world desperately needs to hear.

 

2 responses to “The Bride Wore Sneakers”

1. Love the sneakers…and love this lesson.

   Reply

   • Sherie, I loved the sneakers as well.
     They were so her!
     They taught me a lesson, too!
     Gina

     Reply