finding JOY - Day 3

Footprints

I wasn't raised in a Christian family.  I found God by watching Little House on the Prairie as a child.  When I was a teenager, I used my own money to buy a picture with the Footprints prayer on it.  I hung it on my bathroom wall and read it everyday. 

Footprints in the Sand

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 in the sand;

One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of my life flashed before us,

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 the 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."

Footprints have always had an impact on my life.  I had a "family set" on my Suburban before Nate but for the last year and a half I have felt like a fraud.  I've been driving around without his prints included.  He is part of our family and he does count.  I needed to get his footprints on there but didn't know how to represent him.   So, a few weeks ago, a dear blogging friend, Jodi made a custom set for me.  This time, Nate was included. I feel so much better now.  Thank you so much Jodi!!!

Sometimes, I wonder what people think when they are stopped behind me at a red light.  I wonder if they feel sorry for me or if they think that I'm on prozac (not that there's anything wrong with that).  But I'm trying not to care.  This is my life.  I'm proud of all of my children and I love them all the same. 

Today, I am living the Footprints prayer that I have treasured for more than half of my life.  Today I am letting God carry me.  He knows what the footprints mean to me.   He knows when I need to be carried.  He knows that I need Him.  I am surrendering.