Where they Belong
A young lady, as weathered as the shoes she wore, came into The Salvation Army of Bloomington looking for a coat. She is nervous and it took a lot of convincing to get her into the building. As a young homeless woman life has been hard and her trust for institutions is low. However, it's cold and she needs a coat, and we have coats. She talks with our director of social services, and he notices her boots. He comments "those look like they are pretty worn out." She replied, "yes, but they are the only shoes I have right now."
A donor recently dropped off a pair of women's shoes she was adamant we couldn't sell in our thrift store. "They have to be given to someone who needs them." These types of donations can be difficult as they have to be for the right person at the right time - but these shoes were meant for a specific person.
Our director of social services asks, "what size shoe do you wear?" She answers and would you believe it, a perfect fit for just those shoes. With a fresh pair of socks, she slides into her new shoes while adorned with her new coat and prayer of blessing she walks out the door. Her old boots now rest, where they belong.
Who knows, maybe, just maybe, we helped begin to build a bridge of trust that in time, when she is ready, she will cross that bridge. When she does, we will be ready to meet her need in Jesus name whether it is shoes, a coat, food, or a home. We will be there.
What we do know is that God in his perfect wisdom orchestrated through an exchange of shoes, from donor to The Salvation Army to client: a story of His love for us.