You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you…—Deuteronomy 5:33 (NKJV)

As my soon-to-be twenty-two-year-old daughter and I waited in the checkout line, I scanned the merchandise displays for impulse purchases. A bright, green-striped beach bag caught my attention. It would be perfect for our upcoming family vacation. 

The tote was well constructed with room for towels, sunscreen, and snacks. I put the straps on my shoulder and remembered the days of traipsing through the shifting, white sand to a vacant spot down the beach, away from the crowd. When my daughter was young, her feet would sink in the deep sand. She struggled to walk as she tried to keep up with her father and me. 

“Walk where Daddy stepped,” I said, as I bent down to her eye level and pointed to where her father’s footprints burrowed out the sand. She stretched her thin legs, hopping and jumping to match his stride. I followed behind, also taking advantage of the path my husband had made. It was easy and effortless for both my daughter and me. 

Placing the beach bag on the checkout counter, I looked up at my daughter, who stands a head taller than me. She can now forge her own path through the deep sand, but my hope is that we both remember how much better it is to walk in the footprints of the One who goes before us.  

Faith Step: Encourage a child or young person in your life to walk in Jesus’s footsteps.