Footprints in the Sand

There is a very famous religious poem about a man walking along the beach looking back at his life and asking God about the moments of strife when he felt that God had forsaken him. I have always loved this poem, it has always been my favorite. It has appeared many times in my life. I remember it first when my grandma had a little picture frame with the poem. The first time i read it, it just spoke to me, it touched my heart. It again reappeared when one year for my christmas my mom gave me a necklace, a little cross with foot prints on the front with the words "it was then that I carried you" engraved on the back. A very special piece of my jewlery that up untill recently I never took off. (now it has been replaced by an angel pendant my mom gave me that has my bug's birthstone) Through the years this poem has always had special meaning, I can always imagine myself being that man. Walking along a beautiful white sandy beach with Jesus by my side, watching all the moments of my life flash across the sky. I know in my heart that i will not question God about the difficult times, like the one i am in now. I know through my faith and this poem as well that God is with me, he has not forsaken me, not now not ever.

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."

Lately as I look back at the photographs of my son's life I always come to one that brings this poem to mind. When Bug was about 4 weeks old, we went and speant the day with family at a beach club. I remember I pushed his little feet in the sand and he did not like it, one little bit. He screamed at me letting me know it too. But I got a perfect little impring of his feet in the sand. I look back now and every time I see this picture it brings to mind that not only will I walk side by side with God on that day, but I like to think that I will see those tiny footprints in the sand once more. My sweet Bug left his footprints in the sand and in my heart. I know that when I look back on my life and see only one set of footprints during the troubled times I wont question whose they were because they will be too tiny to belong to anyone else, It will be my angel Bug carrying me through the difficult times, like he is carrying me now.