One night a man had a dream: He dreamed that

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 belonged 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 one 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."