Maren’s Shoes
No! She was
not going to wear her shoes. Her sock-covered feet ran as fast as they could.
When you are
two years old, you have all the power in the world.
“NO SHOES!”
Her
beautiful, patient mother tried again. “Maren, it’s time to go. You need to
wear your shoes.”
“NO!”
People were swallowing
their last sips of specialty coffees and bites of bakery donuts. These treats
brought by Maren’s parents to celebrate her second birthday. The whole
congregation sang “Happy Birthday to You!” But now, after delicious delights
and conversation, people were putting on their coats. Sunday morning was over. It
was time to go home.
All in the
church were wearing shoes.
All but one.
I watched
Maren run from her mom. Her determination complete. Her steely will on full
display. Spunk and sparkle fill her entire being.
I called out
her name. “Maren…”
She stopped
and looked at me.
“Would you
like to wear my shoes?” I asked.
She looked
at my feet in my black Sunday pumps. Her socked feet moved slowly in my
direction.
Was this
some kind of adult ploy? Some trickery to take control of her feet?
Still wearing
my white clergy robe and a Sunday dress underneath, I awkwardly knelt to the
floor and sat. I took off my shoes.
Maren stared
at my shoes. Then her two-year-old feet carefully stepped into my shoes, one
socked foot at a time. Her feet slid as if on tiny slides. Losing her balance
she fell forward, arms outstretched.
I caught her
hands in mine. She regained her balance.
Her
beautiful and patient mother came over with small shoes in hand.
“May I wear your
shoes?” I asked.
Maren nodded
solemnly.
I took one
of Maren’s shoes and stuck out my stockinged foot.
I tried to
put it on. I smashed it around my toes. Nope.
I looked at
Maren. “It doesn’t fit.”
She reached
for my hands as she removed her socked feet, one by one, from my shoes.
She sat
quietly contemplating life as her mother put small shoes on small feet.
This
two-year-old girl is a lover of the color pink, full of determination and
steely will. This two-year-old girl is going places. I’m excited to watch her
grow. There is intelligence and light in her eyes. Her parents have passed on
that intelligence and a sense of curiosity to both Maren and her big brother
Alexander.
She is quite
an adorable force.
Maren didn’t
fit into my shoes.
And I know
there is no way I could ever fill hers.
