These Shoes Weren’t Made For Walking

These Shoes Weren’t Made for Walking

A cheerful heart is good medicine,but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Proverbs 17:22

I was at the mall, helping my son buy a winter jacket. I had just finished drinking a twenty-ounce coffee, so I was energized and ready to hunt for bargains. We had been shopping for more than an hour when my legs and lower back started bothering me. I tried to ignore the discomfort as I walked, because shopping often helps a woman overcome her sensitivity to pain. Right?

After purchasing the jacket, we headed back to the car. I just happened to look down at my feet. To my complete embarrassment, I saw that I was wearing two different shoes. I quickly glanced around to make sure nobody was watching me. Then I started to laugh. No wonder my lower back was bothering me—one shoe had a much higher heel than the other. I sounded like a Clydesdale. I guess that is what happens when you get dressed in too great a rush. I had worn two different-colored socks before, but never two different shoes!

Can you believe the humorous things we do in our everyday lives? When today’s verse talks about a cheerful heart being “good medicine,” that’s not just an interesting metaphor. Research has proved that our bodies release calming endorphins when we laugh, so laughter is actually good for our health. Our funny situations are too. The next time you find yourself in an embarrassing situation, stay cheerful and try to laugh. I suspect that God will be smiling with you.

—Lisa M. Garvey

God, help us to be able to laugh at ourselves more and be less uptight over things that likely don’t matter much in the grand scheme of things. We want to show your joy to the world around us. Amen.