Black Sandals

A few months ago, one of the heels of the black closed-toe shoes that I often wore to work was wearing out badly.

So I went to the mall.

I used to like to go clothes shopping; but now, not so much. The mall had become a place of strong smells - a mix of all scents of perfume, incense, candles etc. My sense of smell had been severely challenged and going to the mall had become a dread. But I had a coupon for a department store.

So I wanted to make it a quick trip.

I knew black closed-toe - and comfortable - shoes would be hard to find, so I did not expect to spend only 15 minutes at the mall. In the end, however, after some looking, and expanding my search to various shoe stores at the mall, I could not find what I was looking for. For the few pairs of black closed-toe shoes I saw, they were either too pricey or too not-my-style, or too uncomfortable.

So I resorted to anything black.

Then I saw this pair of black sandals. They were not what I was looking for, and they were not on sale (!). But my nose was complaining and my mind could not bear the thought of another trip to the mall - any mall or shopping place.

So I bought the black sandals.

They turned out to be the pair of shoes I have been wearing the most in the past three weeks. With my broken toe, my foot was too swollen and bruised for me to wear closed-toe shoes; and I would rather not wear anything even with the slightest heels. The sandals had been the perfect shoes. And now, I like these sandals a lot too. I am very thankful I had the sandals already before the broken toe. I would not want to go shopping, not with a broken toe.

Sometimes, what I know, what I think, or what I think I know, is best, is not the best. I thought I needed a pair of black closed-toe shoes because I had always worn them to work; but in the end, I needed sandals. I did not know that when I bought them, but now I do. This might be a small example, but in life, how many times have I thought I know what would be best for me, only to find out I really do not know - and that I am not in control anyway (see: broken toe)? And how often has God provided what I truly need?

So I need to trust God.