The other day, as I was getting ready for church, I was in my nice walk-in closet trying to choose what to wear. I looked at my clothes, looked at my shoes, sighed… and grumbled. “I can’t dress cute, because I can’t wear cute shoes!” And once again, I was frustrated.

Along with a myriad of other health issues, I have to deal with a pretty bad case of plantar fasciitis. Meaning, my feet hurt. All the time. Badly. Sometimes I can barely walk. Gone are any type of cute footwear. No heels. No flats. No stylish little ballet slippers. And worse, no flip-flops! Whaaaaaa…

I used to live in flip-flops. Because flip-flops can be stylish, cute, and convenient. They are always comfortable, and they can be dressed up or dressed down. Add to that, I grew up in Phoenix, where flip-flops are a way of life!

For now, though, I have to wear shoes with lots of support, padding, and inserts. Mainly, sneakers. Which don’t go with a lot, other than jeans and activewear. To be honest, I’ve never been much of a fashionista, and I have never followed trends, but I could dress up and look pretty decent when I wanted to. I just never gave it much thought.

I have been dealing with plantar fasciitis for a couple years now, but it’s gotten really bad in the last year. I’ve had cortisone shots (yes, a shot in the foot… let me tell you, it’s something you won’t forget!), physical therapy, I do specific PT exercises, I soak my feet, take supplements, use essential oils and I have invested in a fancy foot massage machine. All of this to relieve the constant, and sometimes debilitating, pain. The most significant help though has been in wearing sneakers (or hiking boots, but who does THAT in the summer) with added inserts for plantar fasciitis.

Back to the other morning in my closet…

As I was looking alternating looking at my clothes, and looking at my shoes, and grumbling to myself, I had a strange thought override all that. It was like a whisper, but I didn’t actually hear it. The whisper said, “Be grateful you have shoes that help you to walk without pain.”

BOOM! Just like that… perspective. 

First world problems, huh? As I looked through my closet again, I realized how seldom I actually take the time or make the effort, to be grateful for the things in my life. Like many, we live a fairly simple life and don’t buy a lot of extravagances. We try to provide some niceties for our family, but we don’t have the latest or greatest anything. That’s okay though, it’s not important to us. Even so, we have far more than most of the world, and even many Americans. Like I said, first world problems.

The truth is, I have plenty of clothes and shoes (too much probably), and a nice home, that is safe, warm (cool too!), and dry. I have plenty of food, clean water, entertainment, and a family that loves me. I have it made, but sometimes I forget that. And I complain, grumble, and groan, because I get sucked into a “poor me” mindset. I forget that there are people out there who would love to have my problems because their own are so much worse.

After my epiphany (alright, let’s just admit it, it was a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit), I took a moment to thank God that I actually DO have shoes that help to minimize my pain, because many people don’t. Then I got dressed (wearing sneakers like I always do these days) walked out to my husband and proclaimed, “Today I am thankful for ugly shoes that allow me to walk relatively pain-free.”

I’m glad I received that gentle reminder to be thankful. That reminder that I am more blessed than I realize. That reminder that no matter what my day holds, how I feel, or what kind of storm I’m in, there is always something to be thankful for. Right now I am grateful for ugly (okay, maybe not ugly, just not “cute”) shoes.

Our lives are improved with gratitude. When we are grateful, we become the best version of ourselves. We aren’t focused on what is wrong, but what is right. When we live a life of gratitude, we are less self-focused and are more others-focused, and that my friends, is a beautiful thing!