Wear Your Shoes

Lilly and her family lived in Florida out in the country. Her neighbors were horses on one side and cows on the other. Lilly loved it, but her older sister--not so much. Cora preferred the big city nearby. Lilly spent most of her time outdoors. She loved to run around their farm and play in the creek on their property. But one thing she didn't love doing was wearing shoes. It was almost always hot outside, so Lilly really didn't see the need. "Ouch!" Lilly cried out one day. She had stepped on a small cactus again, and a thorn was poking out of her foot. Lilly sat on the ground and carefully pulled it out. After playing in the creek most of the afternoon, she took off back toward the house. Ouch again! This time she stepped on some sand spurs. "Did you have fun down at the creek today?" Mom asked when Lilly got home. "I don't know how you can stand being outside in the heat, playing with who knows what," Cora interrupted. "It's fun. Today I caught some crawdads, minnows, and baby frogs. But I also caught a cactus thorn and some sand spurs in my feet." "I hope you left all your creatures at the creek," Cora said. "I did, and I left the thorn and sand spurs too." "That's why I always tell you to wear your shoes," said Mom. "It helps keep your feet protected." After dinner that evening, Mom said, "Our conversation about wearing shoes made me think of some verses I'd like to read to you." Mom opened her Bible and read some verses from Ephesians that talked about putting on the armor of God. "These verses remind us that the truth and promises of God offer us spiritual protection," said Mom. "When we read the Bible and learn about what it says in church, we are filling our hearts and minds with God's truth. Then when Satan or the world try to throw their lies at us, we are better prepared to fight them off. We can stand firm in the truth that we belong to Jesus and that He is more powerful than evil." Cora nodded thoughtfully. "I understand those verses better now." "Me too." Lilly giggled. "And I understand why you tell me to wear my shoes!" –Lisa Fuller