Bible Stories For Big Kids
  • Home
  • Introduction
  • About Karina
  • Cover Art
  • Media
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Connect
  • Sample Story

HOW BIG ARE YOUR SHOES?

8/22/2021

0 Comments

 
How big are your shoes?

I am not referring to the actual shoe size but instead, your capacity to stand in someone else's shoes.

Recently, I have been taking notice of people's interaction with me and have been unpleasantly surprised at how few people are actually interested in me. Now that sounds totally narcissistic so let me explain. I can think of three recent instances where I have asked a person a  question - eg 'how are you enjoying the Whitsundays?' and instead of an answer which can be discussed, they have proceeded to tell me about people and places which are not at all relevant to me. They have physically been here in the Whitsundays but their mind/attention is still in their own world - their comfort zone. And that set me thinking!

When Jesus visited his good friends Mary and Martha, Mary remained with Jesus to chat and learn, while Martha became hot under the collar, preparing a meal all by herself. There was no microwave nor instant oven or stove top, so it would have been a time consuming task to prepare a tasty meal, and Martha was well known for her hospitality. Martha was doing her best for Jesus, or so she thought, but he rebuked her for this. Wasn't that just a bit unfair?  Martha was sincere in wanting to serve Jesus a proper meal, but in this instance, she was sincerely wrong.  Why?

Let's stand in Jesus' 'shoes'.

Mary and Martha probably didn't know at this stage that Jesus would only be on this earth for 3 years, so didn't realise the urgency in spending as much time with him as they could. Jesus was reaching out to them and although we do not have a record of the conversation, I am sure it wasn't about the weather!  I would assume Jesus  wanted to teach them as much as possible about his role as the Messiah and what that would mean for them as his followers yet Martha could not see past her own thoughts and ideas to appreciate why Jesus came to visit. Martha could not 'walk in Jesus' shoes' as the saying goes. Instead, she was caught up in her world and her own capable role and was probably not in the habit of seeing things from another person's point of view. 

I have always been aware of asking people about themselves, but since thinking more about this issue, I am even more aware of 'standing in their shoes'. It is interesting what worthwhile conversations can be had when we stop and listen to what the other person is actually saying. Listening to what Jesus has to say can be another experience again!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    I have always loved telling Bible stories, especially those from the Old Testament. For the past 25 years I have been teaching Religious Education in the local State School.  Each time I revisit these stories, I still find there's something more for me to learn. That's what I find so refreshing about the bible. 

    Karina Shim, Author
    Bible Stories For Big Kids

    Archives

    May 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.