Obedience Would’ve Saved the Shoes

Last year, my two youngest daughters and I—along with my 70-year-old friend who still plays pickleball every day and apparently channeled her 25-year-old self—decided to go on a cruise. One of our excursions took us to the beautiful Cayman Islands.

Up until that point, my adventurous middle daughter, Candice—who, mind you, is the therapist in our family—had been doing exceptionally well. She followed my itinerary. She listened. She stayed where she was supposed to stay.

Which should have been my first warning.

Because even therapists need therapy.

We disembarked the ferry, boarded the tour bus, and enjoyed the sights. When the tour guide announced we could stop and look around, Candice was one of the first ones off the bus, with my pickleball-playing friend hustling behind her like they were chasing a blessing.

Me and my youngest daughter, Faith, stayed practical. We grabbed a few souvenirs, admired the view, and headed back to the bus—because the driver was very clear: do not get left.

We were seated and waiting when our phones rang.

Candice.

“Mom… can you come help me?”

Help you… how?

Instead of staying on the bridge overlooking the water—where safety, obedience, and good sense lived—Candice and my friend decided to venture down below the bridge, across a bed of sharp, uneven rocks, all just to take a few photos from a particular angle.

And there she was.

Foot wedged between rocks.
Flip-flops torn beyond repair.
Confidence still intact.

Meanwhile, Faith sat firmly on the bus and announced to everyone within earshot,

“No, Mom. I’m not getting off this bus. She always gets into these predicaments. Absolutely not.”

And honestly? She was not wrong.

Other passengers tried to persuade her.
Faith stayed put.
Boundaries strong.

So I did what mamas do—I got off the bus. When I reached the bottom of the hill, a kind fisherman was already assisting. Not only did he help them up, but he MacGyvered Candice’s flip-flop like it was brand new.

I stood there watching my child—who counsels people for a living—get rescued in flip-flops.

To this day, I still don’t know what convinced Candice and my friend that risking bodily harm for a few pictures on a bed of rocks was a good idea. I mean… slipping, sliding, and emergency footwear surgery—for an angle.

And that’s the warning.

Because sometimes we put ourselves in unnecessary danger trying to capture something that looks good, instead of staying where God already told us it was good. We risk peace, safety, and wisdom chasing moments that won’t even matter next week.

And what possessed her to think she was prepared to traverse sharp rocks in flip-flops?

The confidence was impressive.
The preparation was nonexistent.

But if we’re honest, we do the same thing.

Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking we’re more prepared for life than we actually are. We confuse confidence with readiness, passion with wisdom. We dress for the view instead of the terrain.

We step into rocky seasons wearing spiritual flip-flops—
No prayer.
No patience.
No guardrails.

Just vibes and optimism.

The apostle Paul said it best in Romans 7:15:

“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”

We hear God say, “Stay on the bridge.”
And we respond, “I’ll just take a quick look.”

Now let me be clear—God is not trying to suck the fun out of our lives.

He’s not anti-joy.
He’s not anti-adventure.

But some things are simply not expedient for our safety.

As 1 Corinthians 10:23 reminds us:

“‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial.”

God’s boundaries aren’t punishment; they’re protection. He sees the loose rocks we don’t. He knows flip-flops won’t hold up where we’re headed. And He understands the fall before we ever take the step.

And thank God—just like that day in the Cayman Islands—He often sends help.
Grace.
Mercy.
A fisherman.

Not because we listened the first time…
But because He loves us anyway.

Mama Wisdom:
Obedience doesn’t cancel joy—it preserves it.
Confidence without preparation is a setup.
And obedience would have saved the shoes—without them needing emergency surgery. 👟🙏