It's 2:03 AM. As you can see, my body still thinks I'm on Hong Kong time. AARRGGGHHHHH!!! My body is taking A LOT longer to adapt back to normal time than Krista's---who's been back to school since last Monday and has been functioning at full capacity. My theory is that the degeneration of the human body goes on fast forward after you've hit your 30's so enjoy it while you can all you 29 year olds and under!!! Well, for now, I am dreaming about thinking coherently during the day and sleeping normally at night... someday, right?!?
When Krista was Michael's age, she had about 5 pair of shoes depending on the season. She LOVED getting new shoes. Let's be honest here. I loved that she loved getting new shoes so I could make sure all her clothes and shoes were coordinated perfectly! Girls are SO much fun to dress up!!! A trip to the Stride Rite store was part of her regular routine.
Now flash forward to Michael's life at this age... First of all, it's like pulling teeth to get him to replace his old shoes. His one pair of shoes. He doesn't like the process of trying on new shoes. He doesn't like getting his feet measured. He doesn't like walking around and testing the new shoes. He will only try on sneakers. Boy, I cringe to think what will happen when he has to be fitted into dress shoes for a formal event! And, the sneakers have to be navy blue with green accents somewhere. They need to have some light up factor to sell him on the pair. And, the bottom has to have some look to it where I can convince him that it may increase his running and jumping speed. Whew! It's exhausting trying to convince him that he needs new shoes. I've been trying to convince him for 3 years to try on slippers and he's still not sold on the idea.
We were on the way to the shoe store and Michael informed us that he only needed one new shoe (the right one has gotten ripped up pretty badly and then little fingers helped pull apart the rubber on the tip of the shoe). Thankfully, I had taken him to get sized up for new shoes before we left for Hong Kong so he was kind of prepared mentally. We had also looked at our options and picked out the shoe he agreed would work. Naturally, we couldn't find the pair he liked. Or maybe, I couldn't remember which pair we had pre-picked out! Either way, it's a legitimate possibility with the way my brain has been leaking like a sieve these days!
We finally found a pair, had him test walk around and race Krista to determine if they increased his speed and they were great. But, the lights on the right shoe weren't working and there weren't any other sizes available. Of course. We tried on a few more and finally found one that worked for him. The funny thing is that he found a pair that he liked and he was willing to settle for the black shoe with yellow accents because he really liked how they lit up. But, I wasn't willing to pay the price for that pair no matter how cool the lights were. The new ones are light ups and they glow in the dark. And best of all, they were on sale!
Clothes and shoes are not a big deal to Michael. So unlike Krista at his age! But, it's not a battle I want to fight (you gotta pick your battles, right?!?) because in the end, the right shoes and the right clothes do not make a person. It's all about their hearts and what motivates them in their actions, deeds and thoughts. God cares about our hearts more than our outward appearance.
In 1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord says this to the prophet Samuel about the kingly candidate, Saul, "But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height,
for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see
them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the
heart.”
What does God see in your heart?
