As we finish up our study of Ephesians, I wanted to give a glimpse of our next study. It is simply “Living with Disability,” sharing lessons that I have learned in this life with disability. My hope is that these lessons will encourage you as well. Today’s preview… shoes.

Shoes – reminders of God’s provision. Say what? Shoes are a reminder of God’s provision?

Philippians 4:19, “¹⁹ But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” My disability made shoe-shopping difficult. The needs have changed over the years, but the difficulty in finding shoes has not.

For me, shoes are a difficult necessary item ever since my first stroke at three years old. Over the years, God has used them to show His provision.

Shoes – providentially mismatched.

In the early years after the stroke, Dad and I would pray for shoes in two different sizes (left smaller than right) before going shoe shopping. God did not disappoint as time after time God provided a “pair” of shoes hooked together in my needed two sizes of shoes. One time was especially poignant as a “special needs mom” and my dad were looking for shoes at the same time. Her child needed the opposite sizes (right/left) that I did. God provided for each of us!

Shoes – a family need.

During my fifth grade year, dad was in between churches and we lived on faith alone. Someway, a box of our shoes was lost in the move to live with my Grandma. God provided again as someone purchased our entire family a pair of shoes. This was no small gift as there were seven of us. God provided.

Shoes – err… a brace.

When I was 11, Dad injured his leg and had to wear an AFO (ankle foot orthosis, or in English, an ankle/leg brace to prevent drop-foot). To date, I had not worn any and walked very poorly. On a whim, he tried his too big brace on my leg and asked me to walk across the floor. For the first time, I walked without tripping over my foot. Dad cried. We were able to get a brace for me. God had provided again!

Shoes – a necessary evil.

As an adult, there were many searches for new shoes. After a brace update right after my dad had passed away, I could not find shoes that fit despite many, many shopping trips. Shoes are a necessary “evil.” Then, my family mentioned Dad’s shoes. Granted, they are size 10 and I wear size 7, but this new brace is a bit bulky. They fit the brace. I may have done a happy dance; ahem, well my version of a happy dance. God had provided not one pair of shoes, but in the end five pairs of shoes and a pair of boots from Dad’s supply. I have never had so many pairs of shoes that fit at one time. And… within moments of putting the correct size shoes on the new brace, my walk was stable, steady, and straight. Praise the Savior!

Through this ordinary need, God showed me His extra-ordinary love. I was reminded of His promise in Matthew 6:30-32, “³⁰ Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? ³¹ Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ³² (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

Shoes – setting a fashion trend.

Think anyone will notice that my shoes are two different sizes? #AFOLife

Another brace update to accommodate changing needs meant shoes were once again needed. Thankfully, a company called Orthofeet makes Biofit shoes for AFO’s. They are very adjustable so that you can fit them to any brace as well as your non-braced foot. (You basically build-a-shoe when they come.) With the updated brace, the size difference between my braced and non-braced shoes meant needing to purchase two pair of shoes. For a year while I prayed for funds for a matching pair to fit the right foot, I was a trend-setter. (I mean my mask trend caught on. Maybe this will, too!) Then, God again provided for a matching pair of shoes to fit the right foot.

Shoes – reminders of God’s provision!

Shoes will always be difficult for me. In younger years, I would say that when I get to heaven I wanted cute shoes as I would be able to walk in them without difficulty. Now, I realize that when I get to heaven, cute shoes will be the last thing I am thinking about. Yet, shoes here always will remind me of His provision! Remember. God will provide, even the seemingly little things.