Opinion

What kind of footprints do I leave?

Ruth Lilley has been walking in the snow, and reflects on the footprints that she leaves behind for others to see.

Over the last few days, I have been giving a lot of thought to where I place my feet. The snow on the ground has meant that I have been more watchful than usual. I have spent more time looking at the pavement as I walk and have had to give a lot more consideration as to where is the safest place to put my feet!
 
Yesterday, as I walked home from work, I suddenly wondered if I would be able to see my footprints from my earlier walk to work. I checked the soles of my trainers and noticed that they had quite a distinct pattern, so I carefully looked for that pattern amongst all the other footprints.
 
In that moment, I felt that it was quite lovely that I could see an imprint of where I had already travelled. I had left my mark!
 
Then my thoughts journeyed a bit further and that caused me to think about the other ‘footprints’ that I leave. Making that first footprint in the snow, for me, is quite a wonderful thing to do. There is something quite beautiful about a new blanket of snow, especially when you do not have to travel around in it!
 
How beautiful are the footprints that I leave as I travel around each day? What impact are my footprints having? If I was looking for the imprint of my sole, would it be one that has had a positive or negative impact? Do my footprints build others up or do they knock them down? Are my footprints judgemental or do they show grace? Do they rush from one place to the next or do they take time to notice their surroundings?
 
This year, I am hoping to be more intentional with writing in my journal. On the first day of the year I wrote, ‘I will begin each day declaring I will walk with You and if I fail, I will rise again and declare it over again.’ At the top of the next few pages and then subsequent pages throughout my journal I have written, ‘I will walk with You.’
 
By choosing to be intentional, I needed to give myself that visual reminder that my Heavenly Father was the one I needed to look to as I began each day and then throughout the day as I make my footprints. He is the One that will keep my footprints safe, whatever the weather.
 
The photo of her footprints, amongst many others, in the snow, is courtesy of Ruth Lilley.

Ruth Lilley teaches at an infant school in Norwich. She also enjoys writing, and writes a regular blog called ‘With Every Sun Comes A New Day.’

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