By Shay Greenwood
Roosevelt Greenwood Sr. (center) surrounded by grandkids
When I met my husband, Roosevelt, at a conference we attended in Washington D.C. thirty years ago, I noticed the shoes he wore. He was not only handsome, but had on really nice dress shoes that were newly polished. At that time, I loved seeing a man with nice shoes. But I also knew that the shoes really didn’t make the man. It doesn’t matter what shoes you wear; it matters how you walk in those shoes.
Roosevelt had an incredible example of not only what shoes to wear, but also how to walk in a way that honors God. Little did I know how great of a father my husband would be because of the example of his dad, Roosevelt Greenwood Sr.
What an honor to be the daughter-in-law of a man who loved his family well and taught his family to do the same because of His love for Jesus! As we started doing things against certain man-made traditions of the church he loved, he would constantly encourage us to pursue what the Lord had for us to do. We knew that his love for the Lord allowed him to override those traditions. He supported the unique steps God had for us even though it may have been difficult for him to watch us do something different.
When my husband’s father passed away, he left behind a legacy of faith, love, wisdom, and strength. Just as Moses had to fill the shoes of Joshua, leading the Israelites into the Promised Land (Joshua 1:1-9), my husband has filled the shoes of his father, leading our family forward with courage and faith, no matter the obstacles we’ve faced.
We miss having him here with us. It was especially difficult when Roosevelt was in the hospital during his cancer journey. “I wish I could talk to my dad” was a frequent thing he would express. It broke my heart that he wasn’t here with us during that time to pray and to pass us $20. But God provided in sweet ways that would remind Roosevelt of his dad. We were thankful for those moments.
In 1 Samuel 16:7, God reminds us, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” It’s not about the shoes we wear or the external appearances; it’s about the heart we have and how we walk in those shoes.
Even if this Father’s Day is difficult for you, may we all strive to walk in the shoes of our loved ones who have gone before us, carrying on their legacies with humility, grace, and a commitment to making a positive impact for the Lord. May we walk in our shoes with confidence like those who have walked before us!
Shay is a style coach with a mission to help women look and feel their best! Follow her on Facebook and Instagram @shaygreenwood.