“I’m late, I’m late! For a very important date . . .
And you know the rest.
It’s a cold Tuesday morning in January when my day begins to splinter, threatening to shred my best laid plans.
Uh oh. The red numbers on the bedroom clock blink through another minute. I zip into my skirt and shrug into my suit jacket.
A mini tidal wave of coffee sails over the edge of the mug, misses my hand and skirt, but sinks into the . . .
No!
Yes.
Into the carpet.
I grab a towel and mop at the mess, muttering something unkind regarding mug handles that totally ignores the truth.
Note to self: Don’t try to walk, balance coffee mug, think about dog food, and adjust bra strap at the same time.
Ready.
Not quite. I glance at my shoeless feet and rocket into the dark closet groping for my black heels.
I’m late, the last one to leave the house. The board meeting starts at 8:30 and is a twenty minute drive. My report won’t present itself and, ohhh, if I don’t get going, I’m not going to make it on time.
Purse and briefcase in hand, I shoot a passionate prayer for help heavenward and lock the door behind me.
♥
Two hours later, Deb grabs the ringing phone as I walk into the office and through the reception area. We both mouth a whispered “Hi.”
I poke my head into Kay’s office. “Looks like you two are having a busy morning.”
Kay nods. It’s been crazy. How did your meeting go?” She hands me several call-back notes as the second phone line chimes. She answers and asks the client to hold.
“It went well; I’ll tell you all about it later.” I turn to leave, but Kay’s sudden peal of laughter behind me turns me around.
She points at my feet. “Did you get dressed in the dark this morning? Look at your shoes!”
I stare down at my feet. What’s she talking about? My shoes look perfectly normal. Black heels, closed toes. Identical. 
Already answering the phone with her friendly “This is Kay, may I help you?” she dodges my questioning look and grins at me.
I twist to look at the back of the heels as I remember the rocket-dive into my dark cave of a closet this morning. On my left foot, a sling-back. On my right, enclosed back. Great!
I shrug and shake my head, attempting to reflect Kay’s cute/sassy smile, and leave her to her phone call.
♥
In my office both shoes come off and I hold them up. Heat creeps into my cheeks.
No one had said a word at the meeting, and now I sink back into my chair, trying to see the humor in all this.
At least, Kay and Debbie know the stress I’m under these days, running the business, care-taking my elderly parents, and more. I couldn’t do it without them. Later, the three of us share a good laugh, and since I never find the time to go home and change, I just wear the offending mismatched shoes all day.
But this isn’t the end of my story.
♥
~~ the following Friday morning,
Debbie and Kay have set up an appointment for me, so I’m a little early getting to work. I walk into my office, and instead of the expected client, Kay and Deb are waiting for me, sitting in front of my desk.
“You might want to sit down, we have something to tell you,” Kay says.
Uh oh.
I round the desk and sit like a bump, looking at them, then at my desk. No birthdays on the calendar. What are they up to?
Laid out on desk, three cups of fresh coffee, warm coffee cake, pink carnations and baby’s breath in a little crystal vase circled with a pink ribbon. A beautiful card tells me I’m appreciated and that they understand all the heaviness in my life right now, that they’re here for me—
And there’s no way I can stay behind that desk. I get up to give them each a hug. but before I can, both smiling like Cheshire cats, they point at their feet, laughing.
I choke back tears. There, on those four sweet feet are four different black shoes.
Kay looks up at me, dead serious, “Just one thing you need to know. We are not going to wear ours all day like you did!”
Talk about feeling loved and encouraged. There’s no better way they could have shown their love and support.
Thanks, God, for my staff—I love You—and them.
“Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart” (Proverbs 27:9 (AMP).
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV).
♥
Clock-watching translates into stress, equaling anxiety and big nerves. Oh, and spilled stuff!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart . . . translates into peace beyond understanding.
Walk with Him.
Do you have a story to share? ☺
Love,
Sally
EVERYONE HAS A STORY 