One night a man had a dream.

He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Scenes from his life flashed across the sky and 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 had flashed before him, he recalled that at the lowest and saddest times of his life there was only one set of footprints.

Dismayed, he asked, "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me."

The Lord replied, "My precious child. I love you and I would never leave you.

During your times of trial and suffering when you saw only one set of footprints...

That was when I carried you."

-- Margaret Fishback Powers
(This poem perhaps was written Thanksgiving (Canadian) 1964 at Echo Lake Youth Camp, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The book, of the same name, is published by HarperPerennial, a division of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd., 1993. The original title was "I Had A Dream." )

OR

-- Mary Stevenson
(Others believe Mary is the author. Visit Longbeach Press - Telegram for more information.)