Footprints

Footprints in the Sand is a fairly well-known poem. My parents used to have a copy of this poem hanging in their bathroom. I was well aware of the little poem that hung on the wall in their bathroom, but I must've passed by it tons of times before I actually stopped to read it. However, one day I did stop to read it, and although I was just a little girl, I was very moved by it. Here's the poem for anyone who might not be familiar with it:

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to him and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. Lord you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The Lord replied, my precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.

As I said, I was just a kid when I read this poem for the first time, but it really had a big effect on me. I've always believed in God and have always known that He is not only aware of us, but that he is intimately involved in every detail of our lives. He is the creator of our body/soul and He is the architect of our lives. I find it so comforting to know that the Lord is always by our side every step of the way, through good times AND bad. We are never alone.