I don’t have school-aged children anymore, and I have noticed I’m a bit oblivious to the timing of the school year. What keeps me somewhat attuned is having friends who are teachers, friends with school-aged kiddos and the shopping ads for whatever season is approaching. When the time came to shop for school supplies and clothes when I was a kid, I always looked at the time as a new way to organize, evaluate my approach to studying, or change my look. Book bag or backpack. Changing my color scheme. Less pencils and more pens. Trendy or practical.
One thing that didn’t change were the basics. So whether I wanted a tote or backpack, I still had a bag. I considered gel pens but stuck with ballpoint. I always loved new clothes, but jeans and sweatshirts were (and still are) my fave.
Imelda Marcos set a high standard for women and their shoe collection, but it’s something I didn’t get into. These days, however, I find value in making sure I have the right shoes for what I need. Instead of one-pair-fits-many-uses approach, I have allowed myself to be okay with more than one pair that look similar. (Hot tip: There are companies with great discounts and recurring BOGO deals. You don’t have to buy all at once or break the bank.) I have 3 pair of sneakers: all-purpose, Saturday shoes, workout shoes. Maybe I could use more. Maybe I want more. But these are what I use right now.
My all-purpose are just that. Going to the store, grabbing food, running errands, road trip.
Saturday shoes are mainly worn…on Saturday. Saturday is our volunteer day at a food pantry-type organization (although it is much, much more). We are there weekly with few exceptions. While we are there, we are on our feet nonstop. Now and then we get a break in the action, but it’s not for long. One of the directors informed me that I should look into different footwear, so I took her advice and search criteria and found some great shoes. I will occasionally wear them when I know I will be walking a lot in a particular area or at an event, but they are mainly my Saturday shoes.
I used to use my all-purpose shoes for exercising, but I wanted some different shoes with different support – and to not wear out the shoes too quickly. These shoes support medium to high impact, and they set the tone and mindset for me. (Shoes on – let’s GO!) Working out has become less about vanity and more about functionality. I like being able to squat down and get up without aids, lift something heavy without hurting my back, keep up a steady pace or incline without losing my stamina or breath too soon.
These sneakers are my support for movement, endurance, accomplishing tasks. They protect my feet from uneven ground, whether that means dips in the path or small debris that could trip me or otherwise impact my feet. They’re a wide base so I don’t roll an ankle or lose my balance. They give me confidence to keep going.
You know what else is foundational and basic? The word of God. The sword. The scriptures. The bible.
The bible.
I read it, quote it, highlight it, share it. It is life-giving:
• (Deuteronomy 8:3, 1 Peter 1:23)
It guides:
• (Proverbs 3:5-6, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
It builds:
• (Joshua 1:8, Acts 20:32)
It convicts:
• (Psalm 51:1-4, James 1:23-25)
It provides wisdom:
• (Proverbs 6:23)
It is offense and defense:
• (Ephesians 6:17).
It is also current and relevant: “for the WORD of GOD is living and active” ~ Hebrews 4:12
I also have more than one. I have different translations. I have different sizes. They have all been used – sometimes in one setting. They are all important to me because of their different uses. They all serve me well. I purchased them as I found need for something other than the one-bible-fits-all. DISCLAIMER: I am not suggesting everyone needs more than one bible to have a foundational understanding of the bible. Nor am I suggesting that everyone needs more than one pair of sneakers. Just painting a picture here.
Our feet are the foundation of our bodies. Take a look at God’s beautiful creation in the mirror and see what your feet support. It’s worth the investment to take care of your feet.
God’s word is foundational to our understanding of Him, seeking him, hearing from Him. Open your bible. Read it. Highlight it. Pray over it. Journal it. Share it. Let it be foundational to your relationship with Jesus: learning about His life, modeling how He loved, fierce devotion to His father’s will. The approach to understanding, reading, sharing, studying may change, but the need for the Word will never change.
Her Second Half Faith 
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