FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking
in a field with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from
his life. For each scene he noticed
two sets of footprints in the sand;
one belonged 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
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 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."