So, many of you already know that my background training is Nursing — Isolated Outpost Nursing in the High Arctic to be exact! 🙂 But for the past eight years, once we moved back down here, I was offered and accepted a role in the oh-so-fancy-and-ultra-fabulous extended care facility (aka old folks home) as the oh-so-first-class FOOT CARE NURSE!!

Ohhhhh, ahhhhh. Yes, do I hear gasps of glory!!?? 🙂

Now, as much as I know those “gasps” are more likely “groans” from the GROSSNESS factor, I am still proud to be the current and reigning QUEEN of TOE FUNGUS in CRANBROOK, BC! LOL!

But I really do like my role as I really get to help others, really listen to people’s “stories,” really set my OWN schedule, and best of all, be really available for my FAMILY. (See how this role hits a lot of my core values? But more on that another day 🙂

And as a super “successful” foot care lady, I must have the most beautiful, soft, and delicate feet. Oh yes, when I look down and follow around to the heels, they really ARE so soft and healthy and sweet.

Except … I am totally lying! LOL!

Oh yes, it is true! My feet are TERRIBLE. Calloused, crusty and currently cracked, and all because why? I really do prefer to go barefoot as much as possible. 

Oh yes, those “crusty calluses’’ are useful as I walk and plop around the backyard barefoot, no problem at all. And actually, on a recent camping adventure, my oh-so-tough husband was wiggling and wobbling as we crossed a rocky river without our shoes. But guess WHO was the unsung, unshoed hero of the day, hmmm?? JUST saying. 🙂

So, OK, where am I going with this story?? 😉

Well, as much as those calluses are helpful, after a certain point of time and toughness and  NOT attending to them, they actually become … 

HARMFUL.

Hmmm?? Really???

Yup. It is true. NOT enough callus on busy walking, working feet = pain and limping and legit sore spots….

But TOO much callus on busy walking, working feet can also = pain and limping because, in my case, there is beginning to be … bleeding.

Yes, me, the FOOT CARE NURSE, has been struggling with BLEEDING feet?!! Don’t I KNOW better??

You think I would, but the cracking and bleeding got all the way to the point that I had to roll and walk on the outside of my foot, which led me to twist and tweak my hip, which led me to pull an inner thigh muscle, which led me to wake up at night each time I attempted to move, which led me to be a wee bit cranky the next day. (OK, I wanna debate that last point, but it is what my family reflected to me … though, come on, just who are YOU going to believe?) 😉

But honestly, I was sitting with seriously sore feet for over a week. Yes, me, totally KNOWING better and being the girl to guide others on how to take care of their toes. Yet there I was, totally not taking any TIME or giving any ATTENTION to HEALING my heels! Just what was I thinking??

Hmmm…. And it was being in that spot and space that got me THINKING, “Isn’t that just like us with our spiritual sore spots?”

Yeah, like we know they are there, we often KNOW what we have to DO, and yet don’t we often think “avoidance” is the easier solution? ”Easier” in the short term, except when we avoid dealing with and addressing our hurts, we end up with real ripple effects of extra PAIN and  PROBLEMS.

And so, where do I GO with all this?

Well, now here’s an idea. How about straight to the TRUE healer, aka GOD!!! 🙂

‘Cause, ladies, I sure should have spent a lot of my time and attention tending to those sore spots for my feet right away, before they began to bleed.

But even with that error, it is far better that I KNOW where to GO for the “cracks and calluses” in my soul. HE knows just what to leave and what to remove to keep me fully functioning at my peak performance, but it takes ME following through on what the TRUE HELPER tells me to do.

Yup, I don’t want to miss out walking each day to HIS best feet-beat, or spending any more time with extra pain or lost sleep at night. So I think from now on, I will just get it “right,” right from the beginning, by being daily with HIM, allowing HIM to buff the TOO TOUGH away and cure the hurts and cracks in my soul with the best “HEALER” I know — CHRIST.

Carol 😉

For some solid verses to stir the soul about where to GO for true HEALING, check out:

– Acts 14:8-10 — I like this one because it has to do with feet! LOL!

– Hosea 11:3 — I like this one as it shows that sometimes we don’t even SEE where the healing comes from, but it was HIM all along.

– Luke 8:50 — This one is cool as it proves our heart, minds and MOTIVES matter first.

– Mark 10:52 — And again, another one that speaks to the above concept (‘cause why have one when you can have two??!!) 😉

– Matthew 10:8 — Just a light scattering of what JESUS can do. 🙂

P.S. If YOU have a healing story to share, please post it today or send it my way!! The sharing of stories is super inspirational!!