A Walk to Remember

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I grew up in a fairly conservative environment where Christian messaging was as common and seamlessly a part of this American life as the cadre of celebrity self-help gurus are today.   (Along with the Boy Scouts, Vacation Bible School, the Super Friends cartoon hour on ABC Saturday morning, and a couple of schoolyard brawls, I credit that upbringing with instilling me with a strong moral code and a sense of social responsibility.)

Hanging at one end of the hallway of my childhood home was a poem called "Footprints in the Sand" which my mother had spent hours cross-stitching onto muslin.  The task was as  much a form of prayer and meditation as anything.

I was reminded of the poem one recent weekend.

Having been bombarded with one heavy snowfall after the next, we had little opportunity on the weekends–when Josh is at the farm–to take our customary walks around the property.  Aside from being a good source of exercise during an otherwise housebound winter, these walks often give us the time to sort out personal issues without the distractions that accompany running a farm and a start-up company.

"I'm right"

"No, I'M right"

Resolutions of these sorts of arguments never come easily or quickly.  Ultimately one person has to be "right"… and the wise one is not always the same.

As we finished up the hour-long walk–filled with discussions of various levels of intensity, I looked back at the trail we had left in the snow.

One set of foot-prints.

And it struck me.

Sometimes in life the trip is more pleasant when walking side x side.

But certain parts of the journey are easier if one person leads and the other steps in his footprints.

Footprints in the Sand

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 were one set of footprints.

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 have only been one

set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most,

you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,

"The times when you have

seen only one set of footprints,

is when I carried you."

-Mary Stevenson

Who's helped you in your journey.  Tell them 'thank you' in the comments section below.