The Mismatched Shoes

 

And be ye kind one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God for Christ's sake

hath forgiven you.

-- Ephesians 4:32

           

 

            It was about this time of year: bitter cold with howling winds here on the prairie. Every retiree with a lick of sense and a couple of bucks was out of town at some resort town, doing that snowbird thing.

 

            Well, this friend of mine - let's call her "Marty" - got to go to one of those palm-tree places, too, for a week's vacation. Her husband wasn't quite retired, but they were visiting different options, deciding where to put down roots when the time came.

 

            They live quietly, are far from jet-setters, and were just there for a week, seeing retired friends they knew who already owned homes there.

 

            Well, one day on the golf course, Marty's husband met up with a bunch of guys from our city who were members of "the silk-stocking set." You know: powerful, loaded, with big homes on golf courses, living fairly high on the hog.

 

            These big shots invited Marty's husband to come to a dinner party that very night, and of course, bring Marty. It was someone's birthday, and they were all meeting for drinks at a swank mansion, followed by dinner at "the club." Very casual, they assured him.

 

            The husband was set: just throw a sport coat over your golf clothes, and you're good to go.

 

            But for the ladies, it was a different story. "Casual" in our Midwestern city means dress like you are going to Wal-Mart. "Casual" in THAT resort location means dress like you are meeting the queen.

 

Marty hadn't packed anything for a "lifestyles of the rich and famous" party. She knew bluejeans or her warm-up would be seriously underdressing. Even a nice pants outfit wouldn't do. She did have a nice, plain skirt that she could wear with a blouse. The trouble was, the only pair of dress shoes that she'd packed were for a particular pants outfit. They didn't go with the skirt, at all.

 

            I can't remember if the skirt was black and the shoes were red, or vice versa, or what the deal was. But evidently, it was enough of a mismatch that Marty rushed to the mall late that afternoon, attempting to buy shoes to go with her skirt.

 

            But because this was a tourist trap, the cheapest shoes were, like, $200.

 

            So she said, heck. I'll just come as I am. If they don't like it, they can lump it.

 

            Much to her chagrin, the hostess opened the door to her big mansion wearing a suede outfit that must've cost $1,000.

 

            All of the other ladies were dressed to the nines, too. And there she was, in shoes that were a real fashion "don't."

 

    

 

 

She felt like The Little Match Girl . . . that there was a spotlight on her mismatched shoes . . . that people were looking her over from top to toe, then dismissing her as clueless . . . like those "mean girls" did to us geeks back in school to make us feel like we didn't fit in, weren't good enough.

 

At the dinner, there were place cards with people's names on them at this long table with gigantic centerpieces all the way down.

 

Marty's husband was seated 'way far away from her. Her place was between two older gentlemen, neither of whom said a word to her. She couldn't see who was across from her because of the huge centerpiece.

 

But in the caddy-corner seat, across from her, was this rich, rich older woman from our hometown.

 

Marty was a "nobody" compared to her. She could have ignored her and visited the whole evening with the other guests, who were closer to her social status.

 

Marty wanted to shrink into flea-size, which is how she felt, and creep away.

 

But this rich woman looked across the table at Marty . . . and smiled graciously . . . said hello . . . and began a lively conversation which lasted through dinner.

 

She wanted to know all about Marty . . . her family . . . what she had been doing on vacation . . . what she thought about things.

 

They found they had mutual friends, and a few of the same hobbies. The rich old lady laughed and listened, acting like a long-lost friend and big sister.

 

Once the other "swells" saw that this doyenne of high society had taken a shine to Marty, despite her fashion faux pas, her stock rose from that of a hillbilly to the belle of the ball. She wound up having a great time and making many new friends.

 

She looks back on that evening as one of the most wonderful examples of human kindness that she ever experienced.

 

Years and years later, Marty was older, and out for dinner at a nice place in our hometown when she saw that same rich, rich lady again, only by now she was in her 90s.

 

Marty wasn't sure the lady would recognize her . . . but she went over to her, re-introduced herself, reminded her about that evening, told her it had meant a lot to her that she had been so kind, and thanked her warmly.

 

Tears sprang into the lady's elderly eyes. Her wrinkled face smiled deeply. She grasped Marty's hand with both of hers and gave it a big squeeze.

 

Nothing makes you feel as rich as to reach a ripe old age and find out that you made a difference in people's lives.

 

Kindness is everything. It's always in fashion, always the best choice.

 

So next time you're out and about, look for the geek - the nerd - the one who doesn't quite fit in - which, if you think about it, is pretty much all of us - and go out of your way to be hospitable. Make a memory of kindness that will last for all time.

 

And think of the kindest One of all - our Lord - our Host. Remember that it doesn't matter how much money you have, what you look like, what you wear, or what you've done. He sees 'way past your little quirks, flaws and failings . . . and loves you just the way you are. †