One night I had a dream.
I dreamed that I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand;
one belonging to me and the other to the Lord.

Single set of footprints in sand.
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 of 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 when I needed you most you would leave me”.

The Lord replied, “My child, my precious, precious child,
I love you and 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”.