Spiritual Sundays: Shoes

Editor’s Note: The Power of Moms is a website for mothers of all religions (and for mothers who are not necessarily religious). Each Sunday, we post a spiritual essay, and we would love to gather a wide variety of perspectives and ideas.  Our goal is to be respectful of all beliefs while simultaneously offering opportunities to share meaningful, spiritual thoughts with one another.

My two-year-old Chase has a thing for shoes.

Not only does he like the actual, physical shoes, he likes to throw shoes:
* He chucks his Elmo slippers out of bed to communicate his lack of interest in sleep.
* He tosses his sand-filled sneakers in the car when transitioning out of school mode (thank you shop vac).
* And, he likes to throw shoes into bushes.

It started in the front yard. He found it absolutely hilarious to throw his blue sneakers into the bushes in our front yard. I would retrieve them, and he would do it again. The trick: to make sure he didn’t chuck them again when I wasn’t looking so they didn’t get watered in the night.

His ambition hit a new level when we spent the morning at the La Habra Children’s Museum in Southern California. We enjoyed the museum, moved outside for a snack when my Mom’s Inner “Time To Leave” alarms started sounding, and started back to the car.  This was one of our first major outings without Dad’s or Grandma’s welcomed assistance since the baby arrived four months earlier, and I was ready to mark the adventure a happy success.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              We were only 50 feet from the car when I noticed Anna was barefoot.

Anna (age 5) is barefoot about 95% of the time. She is her mother’s daughter (much to her father’s chagrin). However, when we are about to leave a museum that is located 40 minutes from home, it is important to have your shoes.

Anna, where are your shoes? Blank stare. Please go get them! They are back by the bench where we had our snack.

Anna ran back (because Anna runs everywhere, even barefoot). “Mom, they’re gone!”

Oh heavens.

I say this like 30 times a day.

“Mom, Chase threw them in the bushes, I just know it!” Clayton (age 7) had assessed the situation correctly. Chase had thrown them in the bushes. But where?

“Here’s one!” Clayton found Missing Sandal #1 within the first minute of the hunt.

Minute 2. Minute 3. Minute 4.

OK, Anna, I think you’ve lost a sandal. Let’s go.

“No, Mom, we can’t give up.” Clayton said this with such determination. However, I was done. My energy and patience had been absolutely tapped-out in the museum-snack phase of our adventure.

I turned to leave. As I walked away, I caught a glimpse of Clayton in my peripheral vision. Head bowed. Eyes scrunched close. Mumbling.

I strained my ears: “Heavenly Father. Please help us to not give up looking for Anna’s shoe. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

We kept looking.

Minute 5 — “I found it Mom!”  Clayton was beaming.

Anna went home with two sandals.

I went home with a new understanding of prayer. Sometimes we just need to ask for help sticking with it.

About Madeleine Walburger

Mother of the Fantastic Four, residing in sunny southern California. Married to my very own Super Man for 10 years. Sometimes it's a Wonder how this Woman can squeeze in some running and writing, but the impromptu dance parties are a consistent staple. Love being a mother and wish I had the superpower to pause and replay.