Footprints
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed 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 belonging 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 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 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."
Footprints...*a new version*
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together.
For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.
But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures and returns.
For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon pararelling His consistenly. You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then something interesting happens.
Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus's are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.
This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether
There is only one set of footprints, they have become one.
This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints. You are amazed, shocked.
Your dream ends and now you pray:
"Lord, I understand the first scene with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You."
"That is correct."
"And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps and followed you very closely."
"Very good you have understood everything so far."
"When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like you in everyway."
"Precisley."
"So Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints seperated, and this time it was worse than the first."
There was a pause as the Lord answers with a smile in His voice.
"You didn't know? That was when we danced"
* To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven: A time to weep, a time to laugh, A time to mourn, and a time to dance.*
Ecclesiastes 3:1,4.
