Green Stained Shoes

"Well, its one for the money,

Two for the show,

Three to get ready,

Now go, cat, go.

But dont you step on my blue suede shoes.

You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes." (Elvis Presley)

I couldn't help thinking of that song this afternoon as I bought new shoes for Hannah, my 10 year-old. As of this writing, she and Joey are at the Daddy/Daughter dance at her school. She's all decked out in a brand new dress and the lime green satiny shoes I got for her.

The thing is, I almost didn't get them. She had tried them on last night and liked them, but wanted to look around a little more first. We didn't find the silver flats she was hoping for, so I went back late today for the green ones. As the store clerk pulled them from their box to check the size, I noticed what appeared to be a fairly large stain on the side of the right shoe. You know how water will leave a mark on satin? That's what it looked like, along with a couple of other dirty-looking spots as well. The clerk offered to discount them because they were the only pair in Hannah's size, but I hated the thought of buying dirty shoes!

At that point, I did the only thing I could do. I called Hannah, who was at home already beginning the primping process, and let her decide. And of course, I came home with the shoes.

When she went out the door with Joey tonight, she looked and felt beautiful in her new dress and green stained shoes, and thankfully I was right, no one will be able to notice the spots.

Still, the whole thing has made me uncomfortable all evening. Not because I bought stained shoes, or because she was so quick to settle for them anyway and I was so willing to oblige. It's because in the process, the Holy Spirit was quick to point out to me how easily I am willing to settle for less than God's best for me. Every time I choose to ignore a sin that seems small and insignificant, I settle for less than God's best. Every time I choose to ignore the direction of the Holy Spirit and follow my own path under my own will, I settle for less than God's best. Eventually, "small" sins lead to "big" sins if left unchecked, and my own path will always be the one that leads to destruction. In time, what starts as a blemish barely obvious to anyone but the Lord becomes glaringly obvious and ugly.

I want to put my best foot forward in all that I do and live a life that brings honor and glory to the Lord. How can I do that if I am wiling to turn a blind eye to sin, my own as well as others'. Water may leave stains on shoes, but sin stains the heart.

"Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. " Psalm 97:10-11