These Feet
Submitted by kim on Wed, 05/16/2012 - 08:42 in Parenting
Every once in a while we line them up in height order. No shoes allowed. The younger ones are so eager to see if they are taller than a sibling yet. After the photographer snaps a few photos of their smiles, I ask him to get their feet.
I love these feet.
At one time, most of these feet were craddled in my hand. I removed the lint from between the toes. I put their first shoes on. I eagerly watched for their first steps. Their first falls. And the getting back up and trying again and again.
As parents, we've ran with these feet. Washed these feet. Encouraged these feet to push harder on bike pedals. We've watched these feet walk across graduation stages, down wedding aisles, and through airport terminals to go on adventures.
We've danced with these feet at celebrations. Prayed as these feet went into ACT tests, surgery rooms, and drug treatment centers. We've bought a lot of shoes for these feet.
In the one short week since this photo was taken, these feet have ventured to a oil field in Texas, a ranch in New Mexico, a shelter for sexually trafficked teen girls in Arkansas.
These feet have patiently waited on customers in high end fashion stores this week. They've walked back and forth across someone's yard behind a lawn mower, avoiding a child's toy.
They've been tucked under a tutoring desk helping someone pass a college algebra final, supervised electricians on the job, and helped a young child improve gymnastic skills. These feet have served grandparents this week.
These feet are going places Rich and I can never go. They will meet people and touch lives we will never know. And yet, how we loved and hated, accepted and rejected, challenged and underestimated, succeeded and failed as parents will be carried forth by these feet.
These feet are our gift to the world.
