St. Mary's, Youth Ministry

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  • SHOES IN CHURCH

    I showered and shaved…. I adjusted my tie.
    I got there (in church) and sat …. in a pew ….. just in time.

    Bowing my head in prayer ….. as I closed my eyes, I saw the shoe of a 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 shoes 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 blessing”, the prayer went on…. The 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 towards the floor.

    Then the prayer ended…. And the songs of praise began. The shoe man was certainly LOUD…. Sounding proudly as he sang! His voice lifted the rafters… his hands were raised high. The Lord could surely hear this ..… 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 deep into his pockets. I saw what he pulled out…….. I heard the soft “clink” as when silver hits tin!

    The sermon really bored me…. To tears!
    And that’s no lie…. It was the man of the shoes whose eyes were full of tears!

    At the end of the service, as it is the custom here, we greet all especially new visitors, and showed them all good cheer. I felt somehow moved and wanted to meet the shoe man personally.

    So after closing prayers, I reached out and shook his hand.

    He was old and his skin was dark. His hair was truly a mess! BUT I thanked him for coming and being our guest.

    He said,” My name is Chralie, I am glad to meet you … my friend.” He had a large wide grin even though his eyes were filled with tears, even tears rolling down his cheeks. “let me explain,” he said, wiping away the tears from his eyes. “I have been coming here to church for a few months now…and you’re the first to say “Hi”, I know that my appearance is not like all the rest of the members here, but I really try to look my best!”

    “I always clean and polish my shoes…. Before my very long walk here.. but by the time I get here, they’re very dusty and dirty like chalk from my walk.”

    My heart filled with pain…and I swallowed to hide my tears. As he apologized for daring to sit so near to me. He said, “ When I get here, I know that I must look a sight.” “But I thought that if I touched you, then maybe our souls might unite.”

    I went silent for a moment, …knowing that whatever was said, would be pale in comparison.
    I then spoke from my heart and not my head!

    “Oh, you touched me, and also taught me, in part!”, I said.

    The man said, ”That is 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 shoes touched not me but my very soul!

    MORAL of this story:

    You are special to me and you have made a difference in my life.
    I respect you and truly cherish you.
    Let old friends know that 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, and take comfort in knowing that someone out there really cares about you and always will..



  • WE plan on having a youth email penpal club. Email addresses will be placed here.


  • Youth related articles to be placed here....


  • Youth Pictures and related articles to be placed here....


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