Yesterday was eye-opening, to say the least. I didn't really think that One Day Without Shoes was going to be that hard for me. Important yes, and I didn't mean to minimize it, but on most days we stay around here... and I didn't think it would be hard to go barefoot around here. Then along came the day. Early on I remembered that one of Trace's students was coming over to help me start my garden. And it was colder than it had been in a week. And it was wet out. And did I mention we were digging?
So I know that my feet don't look too rough in this picture, but believe me, they were filthy and hurting. It was an extremely sobering experience. I cringed as I tried to push the shovel down into the dirt with my bare feet~ it was so hard! And it had me thinking of those who live in conditions in which this is their normal. Later in the day I also worked out, which was rather uncomfortable without cushioning. Just off the top of my head I can think of 30 pairs of shoes that the four of us in our own, and that is likely forgetting some. Man, I'm spoiled!
I think the most revealing time for me was when I showered, trying to wash my feet. I scrubbed and scrubbed, trying to remove the evidence of a hard day, and they wouldn't come clean. The harder I washed, the more I started to sob... I didn't want to just wash it all away and forget! Fresh from the heartache and joy, mixed emotions that accompany Easter for me, I didn't want to erase the humbling realization of how blessed we are.
Trace was my real hero of the day~ He had planned on walking to work before committing to going barefoot, and he kept with the plan, walking the mile commute without shoes. I am so proud!
Halle getting in on the digging action
The little people (Remy, Halle, and their friend, Parker) were amazed at all the worms!
We did in the end get a good start on digging up the plot for my garden (Thanks in HUGE part to Zeke, a student from Trace's youth ministry, who did most of the hard work!). I am so excited about getting it going! Remy sees the world as this giant science experiment anyway, and I think this will be a great way to add to that. The only problem is that I have only killed everything I have ever tried to grow, so we'll see how this goes...
Awesome! Love the pic of Trace and his bare feet. What a great shot!
ReplyDeletesuch a beautiful idea. i love how you said this: "The harder I washed, the more I started to sob... I didn't want to just wash it all away and forget! Fresh from the heartache and joy, mixed emotions that accompany Easter for me, I didn't want to erase the humbling realization of how blessed we are..." wow. so true! happy friday.
ReplyDeletep.s. - my mom wants to buy me some burp cloths from your shop! yay! i'm so excited! of course, etsy is foreign to her... so i know she's going to ask me to buy them and then she'll pay me back. ha!
Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!!
ReplyDeleteHi Mandy! I just discovered you over at SITS and am so glad I did! What an awesome post! It's so humbling to put yourself in other's shoes (or not!!) and see how they live. We really are blessed, aren't we. I enjoyed reading and will be back soon.
Have a great weekend!
Mandy from Burkett Blessings
I hate going barefoot, even in the house unless it's like 95 degrees. I never go barefoot outside--too afraid of stepping on a bee and my feet are SO sensitive.
ReplyDeleteHappy SITS Saturday Sharefest! I was late too today.
Wow. This is amazing. I am glad you did this in order to understand and better relate to issues that people all over our world must struggle with on a daily basis. What a sobering thing to do...
ReplyDeletei found your blog on the SITS discussion board about what turns you off to a blog. anyway, i chanced on yours. you are to be commended for the TOMS experience. i used to be a missionary in Africa and between that work and my work in int'l development since--i have worked in 3rd world countries since 1978. so many times over the years i've been reminded of the story of the man with no shoes--and have thanked god over and over that although my life is simple i have all my needs met. your passions and your decency come through your blog. kudos.
ReplyDelete