The Shoe Box

As some of you know I have been reading several books by Francine Rivers. I went to the library today to try to get the third book in the Mark of the Lion series. They didn't have it but they did have a short story called "the Shoe Box". It was a small book, only about 90 pages or so. After reading it, it just shows that you don't have to read a big book to get a big message.

The story is about a little boy named Timmy. He has been taken from his parents and put into foster care. He is brought to the home of David and Amy Holmes. He brings with him a small bag of belongings and a shoe box with a red top that says "running shoes". Timmy takes this box everywhere he goes. Everyone who comes in contact with him wonders what he is carrying in this box. When Timmy is asked what is in it, he replies simply "Just things".

Through the story you see Timmy in different situations. Some good, some sad. In every situation he has his shoe box right beside him. When it is Christmas time, Timmy wanted to be in the Christmas play. When the teacher asked him what he wanted to be, Timmy said a wise man. The teacher not wanting to hurt his feelings tells him that the bible never really says how many wise men there were so Timmy got to be a wise man. When the night of the play came, Timmy was standing in his spot but instead of holding the box of jewels he was suppose to have, he held his shoe box. The time came for Timmy to take his gift to the manger. He set his shoe box right next to the manger and walked away.

When the play was over, Amy and David asked if he wanted to go back and get his box. Timmy says, "No, I gave it to Jesus". Amy went back to get it anyway and when she got there the box was gone.(There is an amazing ending to this story but I am going to let you find out what it is!)

The author, Francine Rivers, has a small thing at the beginning of the book where she tells about how when she first became a christian, she had a hard time giving all her troubles to God. She decided to make a prayer box where when she had an issue, she would right it down and then put them in this box. It signified giving it to God. She said to liked to go back and look at the prayers later down the road and see how God answered those prayers. I thought this was the neatest idea! I, too, have a really hard time giving things to God. It has been a battle for me for years! I seem to think in my human mind that I can do a better job than God can! Also, I can get it done in my time range. It is ridiculous! I know better yet I still hold on to the things that affect me the most! Loneliness, fear, stress (and stress eating), worry, finances (whoa! That's a big one!), my husband, etc. I know if I want these things fixed the right way, I have to lay them down at the feet of Jesus.

I told myself that 2012 would be the year I started depending more on God and less on myself. Billie's surgery and 2 months out of work were my first test in this area! It was a struggle, I will not lie, but I prayed harder than I think I ever had! We made it through those tough months and now are on the other side getting back to normal. I handed that situation completely over to God and he took care of us! Not that I didn't try to take it back on many occasions but God used that to show me that he is here for me and my family. It was a wonderful feeling!

I think I may make a Prayer box! Let it be a physical reminder of what I have to do. I still struggle with all the things I listed. I would love to go back at the end of the year and check out the prayers in that box and see how God moved in my life through the year! I am so glad I found that story today. It really made me think a lot!