While
cleaning out my closet, I raked out a pair of black shoes and examined the soles--too worn to be given
to charity, I wondered, could I actually throw them away?
You see, those shoes represented a touch point for a favorite devotion of mine that I wrote, which first appeared in the Upper Room Magazine.
So, I have
to tell you, I put the shoes back, deciding I couldn’t part with them. Not now,
anyway.
You see, those shoes represented a touch point for a favorite devotion of mine that I wrote, which first appeared in the Upper Room Magazine.
I went to my computer and hunted
down that meditation, deciding to share it with all of you, today. It references
Psalm 56:8, “Record my lament; list my tears on you scroll—are they not in your
record?”
“I’m in a group that volunteers to
work with inmates in a maximum security prison for women. One of the rules
we’re constantly reminded of is this: Don’t take anything in the prison; don’t
take anything out of the prison. We are not allowed to give the women a piece of
gum, a pen, or even a note. The y are
not permitted to send anything outside the prison with us.
Every time we visit the prison, we
spend a few minutes with the women who desire our prayers. We hold their hands
and pray for them individually. Many of the women cry. A couple of months ago,
during the prayer time, I happened to open my eyes and looked down at my shoes.
The toes of my shoes were dotted
with the tears of the women for whom I had prayed. When I left that evening, I
did take something with me: tearstains.
God has made a record of our tears
and is touched by them. In the same way, every time I wear my tearstained shoes
I am reminded to pray for the women who are incarcerated, asking for healing
that comes from God.”
Friends, if your heart is especially hurting today, remember that God knows
and cares about your tears. Every single one.