Parable of the Lost Shoe

I know that I already did this post before, but I find when I am studying the Bible that I keep coming back to this parable. I fell like so many people can relate to this that it wouldn't hurt re-posting it. Enjoy!

When Jesus was alive, he would talk in parables or stories. One of my favorite parables is the one of the lost sheep. The parable goes,  

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:4-7) 

Now we can get the idea of the parable, but it can be hard for us to relate. So instead of sheep, we think of the loss of one shoe. The parable would go, 

“Suppose one of you has a hundred pairs of shoes and loses one of them that goes perfectly with your blue sequined dress. Doesn’t she leave the ninety-nine in the open closet and go after the lost shoe until she finds it? And when she finds it, she joyfully puts it on her foot and goes to her room to get ready for the dance. Then she calls her friends and boyfriend together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost shoe.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” 

When we place the parable in modern times, it is easier to see the significance. Imagine if you did really lose your show that goes perfectly with your dress for the prom. Wouldn’t you look everywhere to find it? That is exactly what God does. He hunts you down like you hunt down your lost shoe. Another reason why I like to use the parable with shoes is that each pair goes to a specific outfit. Some shoes are meant to go with dresses and some are meant to go with jeans and a T-shirt. One isn’t better than the 

other they just have specific tasks to do. If we all are shoes, then we each have a specific task to do. We can’t all go with each outfit. That why some of us have a specific skill, that someone else may not have. But we were all created for the same reason, and we are all equally loved.