Footprints

Footprints Psalm 37:23-24, Psalm 119:133 If you look at my yard after a snowfall, you will see paths and prints zigzagging all over left by my two dogs. One jumps first in the new snow and the other usually isn’t too far behind. The taller dog typically goes first creating a path while the low-to-the-ground, stocky fella is happy to hop onto her trail. Mostly, I feel, as he doesn’t like his belly to get cold (it tends to drag in the snowtoo many cookies!). When the snow eventually melts, the paths they created are easy to see, clearly outlined and hard to miss. One can see similar paths while on a walk in the woods. Animal trailssome old, some new. A week or so ago I found myself sitting in the driveway of someone I did not know. Nobody was home. My car had misbehaved and I was forced to sit and wait for help. I sat facing a mountainside. My eyes caught movement to my right, and I quickly turned to look. Six or so deer had crossed the road behind me and were running through a corn field next to me. When they reached the bottom of the mountain, they fell into line behind one another and followed the well-laid paths set before them. I watched as they ran up the steep slope effortlessly, their footing sure and stable. No slipping. No sliding. No falling. Once at the top, they stopped to graze and look around. I then noticed, really noticed, the trails they traveled. With no leaves yet on the trees, these paths were easy to see. I wondered to myself when and what in nature first created this path. Was it a big, beautiful buck intent in his purpose and just plowing through rough terrain unaware of the scrapes and cuts left in his flesh from the thorny bushes? Or, was it perhaps a protective doe with fawns in tow looking to lead them to a safer place? I allowed my mind to drift back in time to snowfalls when my son was small. What parent at some point has not went ahead in a snowfall, shortening their stride, so their children could follow in their footprints when they got tired? I thought about my own travels in snowstorms and how grateful I am to have a way paved before me, either by snowplow or even other cars. Footprints. Stop and think for a moment about whose footsteps you wanted to follow in growing up. What shoes did you want to put on if even just for a day? Who did they belong to? Oh, most everyone has wanted to follow in another’s footsteps whether it was a parent, grandparent, sibling, cousin, etc. A crazy, fun-loving uncle. The one cousin that let you do all the things mom wouldn’t let you do. Maybe it wasn’t even a family member! Or a real person? We all know a little one (ok-or an older one…) that aspired to be spiderman or wonder woman! We can all agree there is someone in our lives that had great impact and influence on us. This person(s) most likely served instrumental in contributing to who you are today — shaping in many ways your beliefs, attitudes, actions, routines, traditions, rationales and beliefs about so many things. About yourself. Others. The world. Your faith. I still smile and feel a little flutter in my heart when I think about those that knowingly and unknowingly helped shape who I am today. The footprints they left for me are still in my heart to this day. So, what do our footprints look like? What do they say about us? Are we leaving prints that others would want to follow? Are they clearly defined and outlined, representing what and who we stand for and believe in? In which direction do they lead? These are questions we should ask ourselves daily in the world we live in today. Why? Because as Christians, our footprints are distinctly different. If as Christians we leave our print in this world, then others should be able to see Christ in us. No guessing. Clear. Undeniably followers of Jesus. So, what exactly does it mean, and what must we do to be followers of Jesus? We think we know, but do we? Is it really just enough to believe? Must we do more? When Billy Graham was 96 years old (or young we could say…), he was asked, “What does it mean to follow Jesus?” And as only Billy Graham could reply, “First, it means to be committed to Him as our Saviour and Lord. This means we want Him to be the Master of our lives instead of trying to run them ourselves. And then ask yourself, ‘Have you given Him control of your life?’ Following Christ also means we seek to obey Him every day. He knows what is best for us and has told us (the Bible) how He wants us to live in His world. Then we must ask ourselves, ‘Is the Bible part of our everyday life, and are we allowing its truth to shape our mind and hearts?’ Finally, following Christ means seeing each through HIS eyes. Christ loved the world so much that He was willing to give His life for our salvation.” Billy then ended with, “Ask yourself this, ‘Is His Holy Spirit filling us with His love, and are we seeking to touch OTHERS for Christ?’” Preach it, Billy!! Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV) sums it up: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Following Jesus. The disciples followed in Jesus’ footsteps. His actual footsteps, no less. They got to feel the dust His sandals kicked up. They saw Him every day take His sandals on and off. They saw Him wash His feet and the feet of others (even their own). I can’t help but feel at times they had no idea how lucky they were. To be able to see every day the outline of those sandals and where they led. Wait. We know where those footprints went. They went to the cross. And beyond. To seal our undeserved eternity. All because we have a God that loves us that much. That much! The world will have us believe we should follow the easy path. Put on the shoes that don’t pinch or hurt. Wear the same pair as everyone else. A one size-fits-all kind of shoe. As Christians we must remember that Jesus’ sandals got dirty. They stopped to help the poor, the heartless and the helpless. The sinners. Those that felt the world deserted them either for who they were, what they lacked, or what they had done in the past. His sandals never wore out. Never will. Always in style. Oh, and they come with a lifetime warranty. A guarantee even. We don’t have to buy them as they were purchased for us. We know we aren’t worthy or deserving to have a pair of sandals like this. We are told to put them on as we are told to walk as Christ did. Our footprints should let the world know who we are. Let us go forth as Christ did, leaving our footprints for others to follow in. Let us continue walking side by side with Jesus, keeping stride with Him and not the world. When we stray and lose our direction (and we will), know that His prints will be easy to find. They will be the footprints with a hole in the middle where the nails pierced Him. Next to His prints will be a path. A path where He struggled to carry His cross. A cross that was heavy and splintered. Like His heart that day. A cross that dug deep in the ground as He walked, dragging one end of it, creating a path that will always be visible. In all storms of life. In all situations. A path that never grows in. Easy to see. Clearly marked. For you. For me. For all. When we stumble, He will catch us. When we cannot take another step, He will carry us. Janet