Inspirations - Footprints

Here’s an old favorite of mine that I’m sure most of you are familiar with as well.

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.
Other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
That during the low periods of my life,
When I was suffering from
Anguish, sorrow, or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
You promised me Lord,
That if I followed you,
You would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
The most trying periods of my life
There have only been one
Set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
You have not been there for me?

The Lord replied,
“The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”
--Mary Stevenson

That pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it? I am definitely In a period of my life that, when I look back, I will see only one set of footprints in the sand. My own strength and understanding are completely inadequate to navigate these storms, and it is only by letting the Lord carry me that I will survive. Once again, God has led me directly to the words and the message that I needed to hear, exactly when I needed to hear them.

I found a copy of “Footprints in the Sand” on a website that I visit now and then, but instead of just copying It from there, something told me to look further. I’m glad I did. I had always thought that this was one of those things that nobody really knows the origin of, but I was wrong about that.

There are a few different writers who claim to have authored the poem "Footprints in the Sand." Mary Stevenson's claim goes all the way back to 1936. According to the story, she wrote the poem and would give copies to friends who needed a little lift. Mary was young at the time and knew nothing of copyrights. When Mary’s friends began seeing the poem in print, they wondered why she was not being given credit. By then the poem was all over the place and an attorney told Mary that it would be very difficult to prove authorship.

In 1984, while preparing to move from her house, Mary discovered a copy of the poem that she had written, and dated, in 1939. Later that year she was awarded a copyright for the work, forty-eight years after it was written. Eleven years later, modern forensic science was able to authenticate the age of the document and, therefore, prove Mary Stevenson’s claim of authorship.

Printed above is the original text, taken from the official Footprints in the Sand website, http://www.footprints-inthe-sand.com/. The historical information was found there as well.

Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.