What It Looks Like To Walk In Someone Else's Shoes - Live Loved

I remember when I was 5 years old, and I would slip into my dad’s work boots. I stomped around in the dirt as if I were ready to take on the next project, imagining I was him with his wisdom and patience. Putting on his shoes helped me do that.

I remember when I was around the same age, and I would slip into my mom’s pink high heels. I danced around the tile floor as if I were getting ready for church, imagining I was her with her love and compassion. Putting on her shoes helped me do that.

I’m 20 now, and I practically fit in my mom’s shoes, though still not my dad’s. I’m 20, and I know I can no longer walk in someone’s shoes to see all the places they’ve seen, feel all the feelings they’ve felt or know all that they’ve walked through. My parents always told me, “Never judge a person until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”

I think that’s something we can all agree on right now.

I can’t pretend to walk in someone else’s shoes and assume that because I’ve mentally put them on, I’ve walked where they walked. I can’t say I know the pain they’ve experienced, the past they’ve endured and the present they are currently walking through. Putting on someone’s shoes doesn’t mean you’ve seen all that they’ve seen.

But I can walk beside someone. Even if it means I get a few blisters because it’s not what I’m used to. Blisters are just a sign that the shoe is new, and that’s okay.

We’re all different, and that’s what makes us unique. It’s our physical attributes, personality, values, beliefs, religious views and political views. We are all different, and that’s what makes each of us so special.

However, sometimes we allow the differences to divide us instead of unite us.

Our world is hurting. People are hurting. There are families whose hearts are aching to bring their loved ones back, families who have businesses ruined and destroyed, and people fearing for their life. Differences in opinions are causing division and differences in perspective are causing destruction.

We can’t be a country divided we have to be a country united.

People are hurting because they long to be known. As humans, we long to be cared for and understood. We can’t know or understand the other person until we walk in their shoes.

I ask myself what that looks like, and the question that came to my mind is: What would Jesus do? What would Jesus say to ease the pain? To calm the frustration? To heal the brokenness in our world and in hearts right now?

He would love. He would love people right where they are, as they are.

We need to ask ourselves: How are we called to act?

When we choose hate and blame, it never solves anything. When we choose harm over peace, it never solves anything. When we choose to abuse our rights instead of use our rights, it never solves anything.

Let’s not walk in hate or anger, let’s walk beside someone in their shoes.

We are called to give grace and understanding.

We are not called to do or say things in haste but to say it in love. We are called to show people who believe and act and are different from us that they are known and loved and cared for- because they are.

It’s the differences in each of us that make us all unique and give us all a different story to tell from the other person’s perspective. No matter what political party you are, what religion you are or anything else- we are to love one another and act with respect towards each other.

You never know what someone else is walking through until you’ve walked in their shoes. And since not all feet fit the shoe (anyone else getting Cinderella vibes with what I’m writing here? lol), you can’t walk in someone else’s shoes.

You can walk beside them; and to do this, you have to know, understand and love.

Our country needs peace. Our country needs rest. We are broken people who need healing!!! Be the person to offer that healing. Be the person who chooses love over hate and peace over destruction.

You’ll walk a lot farther.

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Matthew 9:36 (ESV)

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ”
Romans 12:9-11 (ESV)