His Shoes Are Still by the Door

This morning, his shoes were still by the door.

Size 3. Mud on the toes.
His mom hasn’t moved them. Maybe she can’t.

He used to burst in from outside, dragging joy behind him like a kite.
Every room he entered got louder, warmer—alive.
But now it’s quiet. The shoes stay where he left them.

He was only seven.

🕊️ The Fight No One Saw

He was fighting something inside his body no one could touch.
Hospitals. Needles. Cold white lights.
And in the middle of it all—he prayed.

Not like an adult who negotiates with God.
But like a child who believes God is listening.

And maybe that’s why his prayers moved the room.
He’d say:

"God, please help my mom smile today."
"God, make the other kids happy even if I can’t play."

While most people his age fought over who gets the iPad,
he was fighting for another sunrise.

And now he’s gone.

📖 A Name with Meaning

His name was Noam (נֹעַם) — Hebrew for gentleness, peace, favor.

He lived up to it.

Everyone who knew him will tell you:
He didn’t have time to become famous or successful or rich.
But somehow… he changed people.

In just seven years, he softened hearts that had been cold for decades.
In just seven years, he taught grown men to weep without shame.

He reminded people that being kind matters, even when no one’s watching.
Especially then.

🩸 Life Is Short — But Love Shouldn't Be

Here’s what hits hardest:
Noam wasn’t finished — but he was complete.

His life wasn’t long, but it was full.
Not of things — but of purpose.

And most of us?
We get decades longer… but we waste it on silence and ego.
We ghost friends. Hold grudges. Scroll past people we were meant to call.
We forget how short this really is.

And we forget that love isn’t a feeling — it’s an action.

🙌🏽 Call to Action: Do One Good Thing. Today.

You don’t need a sermon. You don’t need permission.
You just need to do something good today.

• Text someone you’ve been avoiding.

• Pay for someone’s lunch.

• Send your mom a voice note.

• Hug your brother.

• Apologize, even if it’s not all your fault.

• Forgive, even if it still hurts.

Because someone’s shoes might be by the door today…
and gone tomorrow.

Noam didn’t get to grow up.
But you did.
So honor him.

Be gentle. Be brave. Be kind. On purpose. Today.

Because life is a vapor.
And love is the only thing that sticks around.

    -Umar From Proverbs and Prosperity