The Old Frayed Shoes Poem by Daniel Sweetnam

I was inspired a couple days ago to take the time to write again and this poem is what came out. Life has been a real struggle the past couple of years and especially the past couple months but my energy is always given to help others and try my best to make life better for them. However, it's never easy and takes a greater toll on the giver when they forget that they also need to receive. I wrote this poem to share my journey and belief of life being the journey filled with struggles, hardships, storms and trials, yet also with opportunities for friendships, learning, growth and hope.

At first the traveler is only focusing on their tiredness and pain, but as they continue along they find others who by taking the time to help, care for and show kindness to, they gain friendship, energy and the ability to continue a little further. However, each time the traveler helps another they also see what they left behind in order to continue their own journey, they realize how much of themselves they had to give in order to help the others. They begin to feel hurt, afraid and alone once more. Once the traveler stubs their toe and they simply can't go on. It's then they realize they are not alone and someone has been there helping all along. The shoes were what were guiding them, helping them persevere. They weren't there to protect the traveler from pain and hurt but to keep them on the path best for them. The shoes were a gift to help the traveler see the world in a way unique to them, to understand how to care and be cared for by others, and to find their purpose and meaning for life for themselves. Not all choose to see the shoes, or wish to continue the journey. Many stop and rest too long and yearn for what could have been. Yet, life is still a journey whether we rest or whether we walk. Our time we spend while living is all we have that's ours. For me I know these Old Frayed Shoes that I chose to take and wear will always have once belonged to another, for me it is Jesus my Christ and he gave them because he cares.