Giving Thanks Day 24 ~ Footprints in the Sand

Today I am thankful, and truly grateful for Footprints in the Sand. You know the beautiful poem...about a dream of walking on the beach with the Lord. I am thankful for the Grace of God, and for my Faith for that is what everything that I am thankful for is intertwined with. For some, this may come as a surprise and I feel my southern Steel Magnolia inner self channeling Ouiser when she hugs M’Lynne and tells her, “you’re in my prayers”. Annelle looks at her with a surprised expression. “Yes Annelle, I pray – there, I said it, I hope you’re satisfied!” To which Annelle responds, “I have suspected this all along.” “Well, don’t expect me to come to one of your churches or one of those tent-revivals with all those Bible-beaters doin’ God-only-knows-what! They’d probably make me eat a live chicken!” “Not on your first visit!” My life has not always been perfect, there are scenes I am sure I will look back at and see one set of footprints in the sand, scenes that were difficult and at time unbearable, and I'll smile knowing that I wasn't alone. Today I am forgiven; His grace is why I'm living....that I cast myself like a footprint into the sand, and He washes away my sin, smoothing the sand out as if to say "Go ahead take another step, I am here with you." I am going to try and live my life so that when the scenes flash by at the end they'll be worth watching ♥ 

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