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 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’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.”