Footprints in the sand

I'm gonna tell you a story... Don't worry - it's brief.

When I was in junior high (according to my kids, AGES ago), I took classes to learn to speak Spanish. (Oh, how I wish I had paid more attention and continued to take those classes when I was in high school and college because knowing Spanish would be oh, so helpful to me today.) But, I digress.

Anyway, I remember an assignment in my Spanish class (or maybe it was a public speaking assignment, I don't really remember) in which I had to recite a poem. In Spanish.

So, of course, I was drawn to the poem, _Footprints_.  In case you don't know this poem, here it is - in English.

Footprints

One night I had a dream--

I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints, one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that many times along the path of my life, there was only one set of footprints.

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life.

This really bothered me and I 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 footprints.

"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most, you should leave me."

The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering.

"When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

~Mary Stevenson

You might imagine the dedication and perseverance it took for me to learn this long poem in Spanish and memorize it so I could recite it in front of judges.  I can almost still say it today (well, not quite).  I do vividly remember, though, the days and days and days of practicing I did.

I could have chosen a much shorter poem, but even at the age of 14, I was drawn to this one.  This poem that speaks of faith and hope and perseverance in times of trial.  This poem that makes clear the importance of relationship between God and us, and how He is there, even when we don't feel Him.

So, in honor of this poem and its importance to me, I've changed up the look of my blog.  In the background, you'll see the dry, parched sand of the desert, and a single set of footprints.  Today, even though I do not feel Him, I'm reminded that He carries me.  And His arms are big enough for you, too.