Shoe Polish Challenge

While I was putting away shoes in my closet, I thought that I should gather some old clothes and shoes to give away to the needy. I've often done this before, but today, something changed inside of me when I spotted the shoe polish.

I was challenged by two questions which came to my mind:  



1.  Why do I gather the torn, the tattered and weathered articles of clothing or shoes to give to the poor? 

2.  Why do I keep the best for myself?  

I grabbed a pair of black flats that I absolutely loved to wear.  They had been placed in the back of the closet as they had exceeded the "gently worn" look.  Typically, this pair of shoes would have landed in the donation bag for the poor.   However, today, I grabbed the shoe polish kit and I began restorative work on my black flats.   After a few short minutes of depositing black polish into the scratches and gashes of the shoes, along with some buffing, my black flats looked like new again!      

Isn't that great?   So, what's the big deal?  Why write about shoes and shoe polish?   I write because the Spirit had laid a very important decision on my heart.  Do the shoes go in the donation pile or might there be something better for the poor?  

God convicted my heart today that there is something better.   I am keeping the restored pair of black flats and I'm giving away my newest pair to the poor. 

I challenge you to do the same.   Will you keep the best for yourself, or might you give your best away?   Let's rethink what goes in our donation piles for the poor. 

"Love each other deeply. Honor others more than yourselves." Romans 12:10(NIrV)