Tiny Sandals & Little Hands

One of my joys came when my granddaughter Hannah, who was one year old at the time, came to visit during the Christmas Season. While she was visiting, I had planned to deliver some Christmas packages to the neighbors and thought it would be fun to take her on this little walk with me. She had recently mastered the art of walking...at least barefooted, but since this walk would be outdoors, shoes would be needed.  Her mom adorned her little feet with cute tiny sandals and then we set out for our walk delivering Christmas gifts. (Yes, in Texas you can wear sandals even in December).

As she stretched her petite arm upward to grasp my finger with her small hand, we caught glances and shared a smile of delight, then proceeded on our little mission. She walked with so much gusto only to be slowed by the occasional stumble caused by the unfamiliar sole of the shoe.

Not being disturbed at all by her slight faltering, she continued to put one foot in front of the other with as much joy and excitement as she did before she had stumbled.  She seemed to realize that she never had to worry about falling because she knew that grandma had her hand firmly in hers ready to keep her from tumbling down as long as she was holding on to my hand.  She may stumble but would not fall.

Hannah didn’t know where we were going, how long we would be gone or even why we were really crossing the street, but she trusted her grandma and was happy to be on the walk.

As I thought about these sweet moments spent with Hannah, I realized that we all have times that we are not as comfortable walking in a pair of shoes as we may be in others. Throughout our lives we have different pairs of shoes that we will wear on our feet.  Like a new pair of shoes, we will have new experiences that may take some time to get use to before we can feel as comfortable walking in them as we did with our previous walking gear. While breaking in our new shoes, there is also a good chance that we too will stumble, but if we grip firmly to our Heavenly Father's hand (and those that represent His hands) we will not fall. We may stump our toes, get blisters or falter some during our learning, but we won't fall unless we let go and try to walk alone.

Just as Hannah was happy to follow my footsteps, we should also be full of joy to follow in our Father’s footsteps.  I know that as we walk in his steps each days, that our eyes can be opened and we can learn to enjoy the simple pleasures and wonders of our world and become even as little children having joy in our eternal journey. We take one step at a time. In doing so we reach toward the unknown, but faith lights the way. If we will cultivate that faith, we shall never walk in darkness.  

“Come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord” (Isa. 2:5). 

 As we walk in the light my prayer is that we can all find the joy and fulfillment that can be ours as we journey through this world.

Listen to the words of Mormon: “Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power?” Mormon 5:23.

 I'm thankful for sweet experiences such as holding on to Hannah’s hand that day that will continue to remind me what I have been taught.  

 “If we will … walk hand in hand with Him in His paths, we will go forward with faith and never feel alone.” (October 2003 Conference,  The Lord Thy God Will Hold Thy Hand, W. Craid Zwick)