I love the little things God prompts me to write about. I don’t particularly enjoy telling on myself, but that is part of writing. To share what we see, and where we’ve been in hopes of encouraging others. I write about having a beautiful life, but God just whacked me with this.

It was almost a month ago, my daughter gave me these gorgeous house shoes. They are so pretty, the brand name is, “Pretty You.” I was so excited to receive them, that I slid them on and walked across the room.

They didn’t feel snug like my other house shoes. The bottoms were slippery, and they felt light and fluffy. I thanked her, and sat them in my room.

I sat them on my vanity, where I could see them. Anytime I looked that way, I could enjoy how pretty they are. Like so many other things in my life, they were nice to look at. The only difference was they actually have a function. So, I moved them from the bedroom to the den.

We walk through, or sit in the den a good bit during the day. I even gave them their own chair to sit in, so they’d be off the floor. I was being pretty careful with them, as I tried to decide when to wear them. Do you ever know what you want to do, but it takes time to do it?

Well, today was that day. I slid my feet in and left them on.

My daughter saw them sitting in the chair in the den and was concerned. We have this saying that, if you’re not using it, or it’s not bringing you joy, then give it away. It will bring someone else joy. She asked if she needed to return them, or give them away. I was obviously breaking our golden rule. They were so pretty to look at, but why couldn’t I use them?

They brought me joy just by looking at them across the room. I think we are a lot like that with the gifts God has given us. We’re perfectly happy just having the gift, or desire, but we’re leery of stepping out in faith and using it. I know I am guilty of keeping mine in the room, but not using them to the fullest extent. Stained glass is one that God is nudging me toward.

I fell in love with stained glass 20 years ago. A friend of mine had started making it, and what started out as a hobby, grew into a full blown workshop/studio. That was the day God planted the seed. I have not forgotten how it made me feel to see the light shining through the glass. It was so beautiful, and a spectacular way to bring beauty to other peoples lives.

A couple of years ago, I took a class on how to make it. My most favorite job ever was working in a custom frame shop, and cutting the glass made me feel alive! The sound of the glass cutter scoring the glass, and then breaking the excess glass away. There’s a vulnerability working with glass, knowing it could hurt you if you don’t respect it’s power.

Fast forward to today, and I have everything I need to make stained glass. It’s in a cabinet, and has been laid out many times and worked with, but back in the cabinet it goes. I have people around me that support my dream, but what is keeping me from using it? Because it’s new, somewhat uncomfortable, and I’m happy with knowing it’s in the cabinet.

After I took a picture of my feet in the slippers, I flipped them over to look at the sole. This is where God just drilled it on home for me. Above the PY, for Pretty You, it says, “Love What You Do!” That is my mantra, “Do what you love and love what you do!” If that wasn’t enough, on the heel is a crown, and a heart. Two other things I preach about quite often.

I’m still wearing the slippers, and not sure when I’m going to take them off. They are starting to feel good now like they were made for me. What is God showing you today? Are your dreams in a cabinet? Are you gazing at the beauty in your life from across the room?

We only get this one life, so if the shoe fits, wear it. Now I take the beauty with me wherever I go.