I tied up my tennis shoe laces while seated on the front porch, stood up quickly to demonstrate my resolve to go for a walk and thought…Okay, let’s do this thing!
While out on my walk I saw a woman who clearly had on socks that did not match. One was a red sock on her right leg the other was a green sock on her left leg, they were ankle high and were clearly two different colors. She wore black tennis shoes and shorts with a blue t-shirt. The point is, I remember thinking, Hmm? Her socks don’t match. Well, years ago the trend was, or may possibly still be, to not wear matching socks.
I remember fondly, how a young gal used to come over to our house weekly and take off her shoes politely, in the entryway, then make her way up the steps to chat with us in the kitchen.
I asked her about her silly unmatched socks one day and she giggled, threw her head back a bit and said, “Oh, I never have time to match my socks. I just pull out whatever two I can grab quickly before rushing off to school.”
I shared a simple tip: I said, “A friend of mine used to safety pin her own socks and her husband’s socks before throwing them into their dirty clothes hamper. That way they’d be ready to wash and would stay mated. If that helps you, try it!”
Enough about socks, life hacks and the woman I saw today with an unmatched pair. But this all started me thinking about how easily we can judge or question someone or think our way is the right way. My socks usually match, yet should it really matter to me whether someone else’s socks match? No! Of course not! This is a silly example but…
In this day and age, or at least currently it seems, people have an opinion about everything, get offended about anything and are tipped over and upset about everything! Okay, I’m exaggerating but let me build my point.
It seems like differences have caused people to think they can’t be together, rather than allowing the differences be the reason we are drawn together. I know our own uniqueness can be celebrated and beautifully stands out because of the differences and diversity of the other people around us.
I LOVE my husband and children so much and my extended family too. We have so many similarities, but really we are nothing alike. We are a huge can of mixed-nuts! I celebrate that, it makes us the goofy and amazing bunch that we are.
I like going to the farmers market and picking up a beautiful bouquet made of the flowers that bloom during summertime. I love how each flower is so different! The big sunflower lifts its head in the center, the little tiny purple flowers fill in next to it, both large and small flowers are represented, with the lacey beside the bold. It’s the differences of each unique flower that makes that collection one of my favorite late-summer bouquets.
So as I walked this morning, I thought about celebrating, rather than judging, questioning or even wondering about a lady who wore unmatched socks. God reminded me of what really matters and what must match. Like what I believe about Him, His love, His character and nature and what I believe about myself in light of who He says I am, now that matters!
I must rehearse truths about who He is and who I am. Because this determines how I think and feel and choose and that is what must match up. God showed me, by speaking to my spirit, how my life’s love must be matched and directed towards people and my faith must be matched with action. I’m working on it! Or I guess, I’d say He is working on it IN me!
So feel free to kick off your shoes, take off your matched or unmatched socks and remember to “keep your love on!”
Let me leave you with these verses:
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:9-18 NIV
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rachel inouye 