I am reminded of something this morning… something so small that if not carefully looking for that something, it is easily missed. Something so seemingly routine and mundane. Something we usually take for granted.
Footprints.
Ours and others.
Every one of us is leaving an indelible impression upon the ground beneath our feet. Some of those impressions but a whisper—unobtrusive and gentle.
Some a bit louder and more invasive.
Regardless of the size and scope of out imprints, we cannot escape the fact that they are ours to walk… to share, to leave. To say that we’ve been here, that our lives have touched the parcel of ground beneath our feet. Our footprints stand as a witness (both for us and against us) as to how we’ve invested our energies on planet earth.
And while others may not be paying close attention to the paths we are marking, there is One who is well aware of our tracks. He sees them from above. He walks them with us as we go. Whatever the soil beneath our feet, we carry the unshakeable kingdom of God with us. We are the fleshy temple of his eternal pulse.
When we get that, when we begin to see our footprints as something other than ours, then we begin to walk more carefully, more intentionally, more fully aware of just exactly how important our lives are to live each and every day.
Today, my footprints land me in close proximity to my front door. Another snow day has claimed my “to do list”, and I won’t lie to you. I’m not thrilled about it. I need my children to be in school today. But they’re not. They’re here with me and already beginning to wonder if I have plans to walk in their direction at some point. They are the kingdom soil beneath my feet in this moment, and I am praying for the grace and the patience to tread lightly and tenderly to their need so that they can better understand the love and grace of God that has been assigned to them via my flesh. So that they can follow my lead and begin to leave their personal footprints on a world that desperately needs the witness of God’s love and grace via their flesh.
Footprints.
Something to think about.
Where are yours walking? What impression are they leaving?
Currently, my feet are headed to the kitchen to look for batteries. Miss Amelia’s “air hog” is out of juice. Jadon is standing bedside with a newly assorted collection of baseball cards ready for my perusal. I’m not sure how my acquiescing to Amelia’s urgent need for batteries or looking at Jadon’s baseball cards will point them to Jesus, but I’m fairly certain that the way in which I respond to their “immediate” will speak a witness all its own.
How desperate I am for more of Jesus in me in this very moment! Now. He is my immediate need so that I can better respond to theirs.
May God grant us, each one, more of his wisdom, his love, his kindness, and his grace so that we might leave some lasting, kingdom footprints upon the lives of those who sit under our influence in the next twenty-four hours. I’ll see you on the other side of our snow day, friends. As always…
peace for the journey,
Beautiful post, Elaine (as usual). I'm also a footprint watcher. I'm forever watching for them out here in the woods, especially now in the now.
I want my footprints to leave an indelible print in the lives of my family. That's what I'm ever mindful of.
Forever follow His footprints. Blessings,
Marsha
I love this :"They are the kingdom soil beneath my feet in this moment, and I am praying for the grace and the patience to tread lightly and tenderly to their need so that they can better understand the love and grace of God that has been assigned to them via my flesh."
It is so true of my daily life, as I homeschool my children. Everyday is filled with the need for grace enough to tread lightly and tenderly. It is not easy, but Oh, so worth it!!
blessings as you, too, dig out from this Carolina snow!!
Praying that my footprints are leading the way to Jesus for others to see.
Even though my girls are grown, we still have the best times together and we had a conversation Sunday night about just this topic. We laughed and even cried together and they assured me that my footprints had always pointed to Him in their lives. THank you Jesus!
Love, Beth
Wow! This was a BEAUTIFUL piece of writing, like a sermon, although you did not reference any scripture, that was still how I saw it. God has been speaking to me for the past few days about how He wants me to be more aware of how I am going about my day (my footprints) with my self-sacrifice, my patience, my kindness and cheerfulness, my industrialness. When I read your blog today, it was God saying to me yet again, "are you understanding what it is I am wanting you to be doing right now?"
So, I just want to thank you for your words today, as they have blessed me in the current journey that the Lord has me on.
Amen! Thanks again for yoru encouragement yesterday! I'm still on cloud 9–maybe 10! Anyway, our ice is gone, and the rains have come.
Love you!
Susan
I'm smiling reading this Elaine. And for today… the footprints you are helping to form, are right there in the kitchen… the dearest little footprints of all.
It's in the baseball cards and other trivia, that we live… and that's right where the paths are being formed, for these precious kids!
Love & Blessings!
Sonja
Such a great post.
Elaine, what a sweet process of looking at whether my footprints on another is soft or very hard. My tone caught my husband short this morning, didn't mean to, not one iota, but it happened. I'm so glad that I was able to sense that I had, ask for forgiveness, and have a God that has tendered us for this very process. With love, Yolanda
…"the fleshly temple of His eternal pulse…"
Girl, you got me on that one! that calls us to His accountability in a very unique way doesn't it!!
keep ourselves rested, fed, taught, humbled, compassionate…and on and on!
thanks, bunches!!
I love it that Jesus not only sees our paths from on high but walks them with us as we go. What a beautiful image — and truth.
Blessings, Elaine!
I stand in conviction to be about my Father's business. HE is urging me to pen words HE is speaking to my heart. My flesh stands in awe struck wonder and some nervousness about what it is HE really wants me to pen. I need HIS guidance to show me that it's Him that is speaking the words to my heart, not my words trying to burst through. It's not about me; it's all about Him! Praise His Holy Name, amen.
Thanks for stopping at my blog, Elaine. This is a beautiful post. I loved the footprint comparison.
I also really like your blog layout, and the verse on the header is now running through my head. When my kids were young, I had a cassette that had Bible verses set to music. This was one of the verses and I can still hear the music!
Footprints. Some wonderful thoughts.
I hope when someone see the footprints they see the One that's caring me.
love and hugs~Tammy
Kingdom footprints…I like the sound of that, friend.
Blessings to you…hope you got through your snow day today! 😉
Hugs,
Beth
I love especially how you say that others may not notice our footprints but God does:) thank you!
There's a Steve Green song, Find Us Faithful, with such wonderful lyrics. It is my footprint prayer, and in part it goes …
"Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives
CHORUS:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey"
This makes me think of trying to walk in my dad's footprints on the way to the barn. They were awfully far apart when I was a yungun'! Now I have followed my husband thru the snow and tried to follow his footprints…kind of funny to do. But it gets me thinking about the ones following us, and how important it is to be leading in The Way…
Great meditation!
Love,
Kathy
"Whatever the soil beneath our feet, we carry the unshakeable kingdom of God with us. We are the fleshy temple of his eternal pulse."
That is a true and convicting statement. I needed to be reminded that no matter what I do, in any given day, I carry His "pulse". Today I will be more mindful of the impressions I leave. Thanks!
I could just cut and paste your entire post but the most profound paragraph was this one where you w
wrote:
"And while others may not be paying close attention to the paths we are marking, there is One who is well away [aware?] of our tracks. He sees them from above. He walks them with us as we go. Whatever the soil beneath our feet, we carry the unshakeable kingdom of God with us. We are the fleshy temple of his eternal pulse."
Wow! Profound! Much to pronder and praise through here! Thanks again for words of such wisdom to the heart!
___________________________
Also – While I was sleeping last night – we got more beautiful heavy white pure SNOW! Oh, what a surprise from the Father! He knows how much I love snow!!!
Choosing JOY, Stephanie
JESUS ONLY in 2010
Thanks Elaine for this often overlooked reality of our lives. This reminds me of Ephesians 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. God is calling us through our footprints to be peacemakers.
Blessings to you as I walk,
Gladwell
Such a good post. Thank you for the reminder (something that has been strong on my heart and mind lately) of setting those priorities and "running this race" with purpose.
Many blessings to you today!
Oh yes, your response to the batteries and the cards are a part of the eternal, too. No doubts of that.
Love,
Melanie
Yes, I want to leave lasting Kingdom footprints wherever I go, especially on my children's hearts. 🙂
I bought a ring last week with footprints on it. It reminds me to keep in step with my Lord. I love this post, as always. Well done, good and faithful servant.
I look for footprints too. I love how you take the simple, ordinary things we tend to take for granted and weave it into a spiritual lesson.
Our footprints are so original, like our fingerprints. I think I leave a lot of gentle prints with my personality, but I can leave a few deep ones, too, as when I confronted my prodigal s-i-l recently and defended my daughter. May Jesus lead us all and may we press on in Him.
I am thankful the Lord is directing my steps. Sometimes I hesitate and question where we are going but I know He knows. Trying to follow and mark the path for others. I pray your batteries had juice for flying all day. B
What a wonderful reminder not to complain about my own three on snow day #6…particularly since there is only slush and mud and they must stay inside : )