WALK

WALK

I drove into the driveway today. I was so tired. It had been a long and hectic day at work. There were the usual financial worries that every non-profit experiences, setting schedules, contacting old clients, establishing new ones, classes to teach, teens to reach, hurting people to love, making sure no one or nothing slips through the cracks. I was just plain weary.

I wanted to go into the house, eat some dinner, sit on the couch, and just relax. Did I mention that our grandchildren are temporarily living with us? Before I got the car turned off, three beautiful faces were smiling at me through the window. Mom was headed out for a walk. They headed back inside with their daddy to get ready for a family walk when their mom came back for them. I headed into the house where dinner was waiting. I had just finished eating when my grandson Logan came into the kitchen. Somehow, he had stayed behind.

“Nana do you want to take a walk with me? I really want to take a walk but I don’t want to walk unless you do.” How can you say “no” to that, right? I told him, “Sure, let’s go.” He squeezed my legs. Jumped up and down. Yelled, “Yeah! We’re going on a walk! Yeah! I’m ready, lets go right now.” As I headed toward the door he said, “Nana I can’t walk barefoot and I don’t have any shoes on. Nana, will you help me find my shoes? I can’t go until I find my shoes.” I asked him where he left them last. He didn’t know. “Nana, please find my shoes for me.” Poppi looked, I looked. I exhausted all of the usual places shoes hide in our house, under the couch, in the play room, in the den, in his room, under the television cabinet, by the back door. Nothing. “Nana, I don’t have to walk, I’ll just ride my bike and you can push me down and up the hill.” Shoes, I need to find those shoes! Then I remember, the car. Maybe the shoes are in the car? Bingo.

Shoes on, we’re ready for our walk now. Logan runs ahead, down the hill, and stops at the bottom. He is squatting down looking at something; he picked it up and said, “Nana, I’m so curious about this. What is this?” He is holding a spider’s egg sack. It is a curious thing. How long has it been since I took time to marvel at a spider’s egg sack? I share what I knew about spiders and the egg sacks they lay and how it opens up and all the baby spiders crawl out. He is like a sponge. He soaks up every word. He is wide eyed as he slips it into his pocket and says, “Nana, lets run and show this to Isabella and tell her about spider eggs.”

How often is that me? I want to walk with God. I don’t want to journey unless I can go on a journey with God. When it seems we are not going as soon as I want, I beg, “Please God, I want to walk with you.” Then, when it seems He begins the journey, when things fall into place, I have an overwhelming urge to yell, “I’m not ready!” “I can’t find my shoes.” “God, I’ll be ready after this, or after that happens.” “God, I’m not sure I’m really equipped yet?” “God, why don’t I just ride and you can push me.” I love the fact that my Heavenly Father already knows where my shoes are. He gently puts them on my feet and when he takes me on journey, we walk together. I think it pleases Him when I say, “Lord, I’m so curious about this. Will you teach me?” I want to be a sponge that soaks up every word. I want to run with anticipation and share with others the amazing things that the Father has revealed.” Lord, thank you that you are never too tired, too busy, or too distracted to hear me when I say, “Lord, I want to take a walk with you. Can you help me find my shoes?”