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 was one only.
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 has only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”
Mary Stevenson, 1936
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I first read this poem when I was a child, maybe 10 years old. I cried when I read it.
I've been thinking a lot of this poem this past month. Gisele's surgery was scheduled for next week and I've been calm and peaceful most days. My dad's birthday was also this month and usually I get really down because I miss him so much.
The last couple of weeks, I keep thinking how light and protected I have felt. This poem keeps flashing in my mind, because I realize I'm feeling carried.
The surgery has been postponed to the next few weeks because Gisele developed a high fever yesterday. She's slowly recovering and we'll visit the surgery another day. All will be well.
I started Poppy Wise two years ago. I thought it would be a light and fun place to record our days. Instead it has been a place for me to unravel and examine my life. It's interesting to me that no matter how much I want to write about our trip to the beach or the handmade presents I made for the children, I'm constantly compelled to write about things that I feel on a deeper level. Maybe the
unravelling workshop I'm taking next month is something I really need to do...
