"Footprints In the Sand" by: Mary Stevenson

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”

When I look at a poem I usually like it because of a rhyme scheme or a pattern that sticks out.  Although this poem does not have either of those, it has a very important message behind it.  The poem begins talking about the Lord, making an analogy of the voyage of life to a walk on the beach.  It shows how much he helps all of us out everyday.  At the closing and most memorable part of the poem there becomes one set of footprints and the Lord carries the speaker.  It gives the reader the message that even though we may not always realize it, we have people that love us sorrounding us and helping us out everyday.