Footprints

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 foot-
prints 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 in his life.
This really bothered him and he
questioned the Lord about it. "Lord,
you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would 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 foot-
prints. 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 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."
-Author unknown