The Changin Of The Boots

Old boots are comfortable. My feet feel like they belong in them. My old boots have molded themselves to the contours of my feet through many days of working and many miles of walking. They still work. They keep my feet warm and dry. They still protect my feet from sharp and abrasive objects. The leather is a little cracked and worn, the soles are a little thinner, and the shoestrings broke three times but I just knotted them together. They still work and feel great. My feet love them. I love them. Why would I buy a new pair? Maybe because my wife has been begging me for 6 months to buy a new pair. Umm...nope. (I think her insistence might be their fragrance) Why get rid of something that still works and makes my feet feel great?

Just ask my back and my knees. At the end of the day serious aches in my knees and horrible back pain. All of the support is gone. The wear and tear from the years and miles have taken there toll. They might make my feet feel great but my knees and back don't agree. Even though they seem to be still doing their job well, there is evidence in other areas that they are failing miserably. I didn't think I bought boots to make my back and knees feel good. I thought I bought boots to protect my feet and to keep them warm and dry. After all isn't that their purpose? Yes it is, but I've learned my boots affect much more than just my feet.

My back and knees feel better but my new boots don't feel so great. They hurt my feet. They seem stiff and don't conform to my feet very well. My feet hurt pretty much all day. They are uncomfortable. They really make me want to just put the old boots back on. After all they still work and my feet would feel better. Why would I buy and wear boots that make my feet hurt? Because I realize this pain is temporary and the benefits will be long lasting.

Sometimes the old things that we think are working well, really aren't. We just might need to ask for another opinion or perspective. The old and comfortable ways often are causing pain or destruction in areas we would never think of. Often times the old things just flat out stink too. The new and different might be painful or uncomfortable at first, but the blessings and the healing that would take place would make it all well worth it.