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The Shoes
My alarm went off... It was Sunday again. I was sleepy and tired, My one day to sleep in. But the guilt
I would feel So I'd go and I'd pray. I got there and sat In a pew just in time. Bowing my head in prayer As I closed my eyes,
I saw the shoe of the man next to me Touching my own. I sighed. With plenty of room on either side, I thought, "Why must our
soles touch?" It bothered me, his shoe touching mine, But it didn't bother him much. A prayer began: "Our Father" I thought,
"This man with the shoes has no pride. They're dusty, worn, and scratched Even worse, there are holes on the side!" Thank
You for blessings," the prayer went on. The shoe man said a quiet "Amen." I tried to focus on the prayer, But my thoughts
were on his shoes again. Aren't we supposed to look our best When walking through that door? Well, this certainly isn't it,"
I thought, Glancing toward the floor. Then the prayer was ended And the songs of praise began. The shoe man was certainly
loud, Sounding proud as he sang. His voice lifted the rafters, His hands were raised high, The Lord could surely hear The
shoe man's voice from the sky. It was time for the offering And what I threw in was steep. I watched as the shoe man reached
Into his pockets so deep. I saw what was pulled out,
What the shoe man put in, Then I heard a soft "clink" As
when silver hits tin...The sermon really bored me To tears, and that's no lie It was the same for the shoe man, For tears
fell from his eyes. At the end of the service, As is the custom here, We must greet new visitors And show them all good cheer.
But I felt moved somehow And wanted to meet shoe man So after the closing prayer, I reached over and shook his hand. He was
old and his skin was dark, And his hair was truly a mess But I thanked him for coming, For being our guest. He said, "My name's
Charlie, I'm glad to meet you, my friend." There were tears in his eyes But he had a large, wide grin. Let me explain," he
said Wiping tears from his eyes. I've been coming here for months, And you're the first to say 'Hi.'"
I know that my appearance
Is not like all the rest, But I really do try To always look my best." I always clean and polish my shoes Before my very long
walk
But by the time I get here, They're dirty and dusty, like chalk." My heart filled with pain and I swallowed to hide
my tears As he continued to apologize For daring to sit so near. He said, "When I get here, I know I must look a sight. But
I thought if I could touch you, Then maybe our souls might unite." I was silent for a moment
Knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison. I spoke from my heart, not my head Oh, you've touched me," I said, And taught me, in part,
That the best of any man Is what is found in his heart." The rest, I thought, This shoe man will never know. . Like just how
thankful I really am That his dirty old shoe touched my soul... You might be best friends one year, pretty good friends the
next year,
don't talk that often the next year, don't want to talk at all the year after that. So, I just wanted to say,
even if I never talk to you again in my life, you are special to me and you have made a difference in my life. I respect you,
and truly cherish you. Send this to all your friends, no matter how often you talk, or how close you are, and send it to the
person who sent it to you. Let old friends know you haven't forgotten them, and tell new friends you never will. Remember,
everyone needs a friend, someday you might feel like you have no friends at all. Just remember this e-mail and take comfort
in knowing somebody out there cares about you and always will. May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS
that care.
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