Exposed

Today was inevitable.  I knew it was coming but I thought I had more time.  It happens every year around this time and it isn't taxes.  Today was the day my toes were exposed and believe me when I tell you, they were not ready.  I hadn't had a pedicure for several months, I let them go in the winter.  Tina dropped me an email yesterday and we set up time to have our toes done on Thursday.  So, I was out last night and decided to buy my first pair of sandals this summer.  They really are cute!  Anyway, I wanted to wear them today.  I put them on, and trotted off to work.  I started getting compliments on the shoes, and that is when it hit me that I wasn't ready to expose the toes yet.  Understand the shoes are cute, but my toes need to be de-winterized.  Now I'm self-conscience and don't want anyone to see my shoes because of my toes.  Also, they started off comfortable this morning but as the day goes on my feet are starting to hurt.  Straps are hitting places on my feet that are foreign, and now, not only am I self-conscience, I am also in pain.  All I want to do now is kick off these shoes.  Have you been there before?  I've been here on my Christian walk as well.  I've stepped out in my faith, not expecting my failures to be exposed but one by one, as people began to take notice that I am a Christian the more self-conscience I became.  I felt they were not looking at Christ in my life, but at my failures.  My failures were taking away from Christ.  The more consumed I became of my failures, the more painful my trials became.  I would want to run away and hide.  Not let anyone know I was a christian that way it didn't matter if I failed.  But, instead I remained, I stood still and let Christ show who He was in me.  Yes, I was a failure and I was all the things the enemy throws up in my past.  But today, I am a daughter of the King.  Do I still make mistakes and fail?  You better believe it, but I don't dwell in it because I know in the end the pain will be worth it all and Christ will be victorious.  Now for these shoes.  Will I kick them off?  No, I will wear them with my winter toes, pain and all.  I know my feet will get use to them and tomorrow my toes will look better.  If you see me at church tonight, look at the sandals but leave the toes alone.  Be encouraged ladies and don't be afraid of exposure, thats when Christ can truly shine.