I am selfish.  I just am.  It seems my children are too.

My oldest, Rylee, is a pretty generous kid.  While she may suffer from her fathers need for attention she did get blessed with the generosity of her mother.  (Heidi once went a whole elementary school year letting another girl have her twinky everyday at lunch – just because she asked)  My oldest son, Kade, on the other hand did not inherit his mothers willingness to share. 

The other day we bought him new shoes, he was in dire need of them and he was oh so proud of those shiny leather kicks.  So proud in fact that no one was allowed to touch them – not even his one year old brother Grady.

I was in my office working when I heard the ruckus, immediately I formed a theory on the reason for the drama, it went like this – Grady saw shiny new shoes – Grady grabbed said shoes and began to chew - Kade saw Grady with his new shoes – Kade screamed and grabbed the shoes from Grady – resulting in Grady screaming.  Not the best working environment, but since we have already established where Kade’s selfishness comes from, I won’t complain.

When I arrived on the scene, my suspicions were confirmed.  There was Grady crying and there was Kade tightly holding his new shoes.  As Father’s, we all have moments when our kids are mirrors, at that moment Kade was me looking right back.

At this point in my life I’m much better at hiding my selfishness than my three year old.  I do believe that God has given me victory over the easy stuff – namely, my stuff.  I have experienced the joy of recognizing the truth that all that I have is God’s and that I am simply a steward of it.  That is the essence of the conversation I had with Kade - ”those aren’t your shoes – they are God’s shoes - He gave them to you to meet your need – you have a responsibility to share his blessings with others (namely your bro, Grady) to help meet their needs.  Thus the title – God’s shoes.

It’s the more valuable stuff I wrestle with sharing.  You know the things I’m talking about – things like time, talents, family, did I say time.  This last year I have really enjoyed the gift of rest and the experience of a healthy margin in my life.  I have been able to focus much of my time and talents on my family.  I believe that this has been an incredible gift from God for which I am incredibly grateful.

But the other day with Kade seated in my lap listening intently (and trying to wrap his little mind around the idea that those little shoes were really God’s) it was almost like God was whispering to me – “I have given you some time because you needed it, but remember it’s my time and my talents – I gave them to you and you have a responsibility to share my blessings to you with others.” 

Seated there with my three year old, that’s what I heard.  And now, a couple of days later I’m doing my best to wrap my little mind around what that specifically means for me.  

So here’s to celebrating and releasing the gift of God’s shoes – may each of us experience the joy of sharing them.

God is good,

Josh