This poem is rather overused, and some might say trite, meditation but I’ve always found the following comforting, especially when combined with prayer:
One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along
the beach with the Lord.Across the dark 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 that 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 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 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 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 in the sand,
it was then that I carried you.”
Go, and know that the Lord goes with you:
let him lead you each day into the quiet place of your heart,
where he will speak with you;
know that he loves you and watches over you –
that he listens to you in gentle understanding,
that he is with you always,
wherever you are and however you may feel. Amen.