The pink, six-inch heels in the photo are not mine.
They were formerly the property of a young woman whose car was recently repossessed. Yet they stand as the latest testament to my uncanny ability to stumble and fall. Let me explain.
My son, Ben, works at a car repossession business. Once a certain time has elapsed, the content of repossessed cars is up for grabs by the employees. That’s why Ben came home from work the other day and handed me the pink shoes and a half-used bottle of Victoria’s Secret “Such a Flirt” fragrant mist.
He’s such a generous guy, and he was pleased to present his mother with this gift to brighten her day. It reminded me of presents proffered up with pride long ago, like the Christmas ornament made of noodles or the tin-can pencil holder.
Now I have to say that using the sugary sweet “Such a Flirt” body spray when you’re a 53-year-old woman who’s been married for 29 years is just wrong. Yet here I was, spraying the stuff on my wrists and noting the “8” stamped on the bottom of the hot-pink heels.
Hmmm. They would fit my feet, if not my stage of life, which is definitely not the “age 21, wear thong underwear and six-inch heels” stage. I’m more the “middle-aged, wear bigger and bigger underwear and have a bad back so need to wear flats” stage. But just for fun, I tried prancing around the living room with the heels on. My prancing ended on the first step as I wobbled from my lofty pink perch and hit the carpet, much to my son’s delight.
I’m an expert at falling down. Too bad I can’t make a living at it. I’ve walked smack-dab into walls and posts in stores. I’ve tripped over steps numerous times, even while I was telling someone how I tripped over this very step and fell on the concrete while a crowd of co-workers watched in horror.
Recently after having dinner at a friend’s house, I picked up my empty dinner plate and pushed back my chair. As I started to stand up, I managed to catch my shoe on the carpet and fell right on my rear end. But I didn’t break the dishes!
A few months ago, I was sliding around on a friend’s slick wood floor for fun and ended up in a horizontal position, staring at the ceiling. Last week I ran into the couch as I walked through my own living room. How bad is that?
I’m great at stumbling in other ways, too. I didn’t fall on my behind yesterday, but I did let being unemployed ruin my day. I let myself feel like a loser — a washed-up has-been with no future — even though God has told me that I’m beloved, treasured, known, and prayed for. I know that the Lord has a plan for me, even if I can’t see it. But some days my spirit seems to forget that. If you’re stumbling like me, remember what God says to us in Psalm 37:23-25:
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
This morning, after my stumble-of-a-day yesterday, I opened the daily Bible verse that’s sent to my email. It was Jeremiah 29:11.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
I’m so thankful that the Lord offers me His hand and keeps me steady when I stumble.
How about you? Do you need to ask God for His steady hand today?
Julie Holmquist 