Story of Footprints in the Sand ( and other poem )

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach
with the Lord.



Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.

For each scene,
he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand.
One belonged 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 really bothered him
and he questioned the Lord about it.:

oooO
(   )
 \ (
  \_)

"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 the most
you would leave me."

oooO
(   )
 \ (
  \_)

The Lord replied,
"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 I carried you."


SOME PEOPLE

Some people come into our lives
and leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never ever the same.

Some people come into our lives
and quickly go... Some stay for awhile
and embrace our silent dreams.

They help us become aware
of the delicate winds of hope...
and we discover within every human spirit
there are wings yearning to fly.

They help our hearts to see that
the only stairway to the stars
is woven with dreams...
and we find ourselves
unafraid to reach high.

They celebrate the true essence
of who we are...
and have faith in all
that we may become.

Some people awaken us
to new and deeper realizations...
for we gain insight
from the passing whisper of their wisdom

Throughout our lives we are sent
precious souls...
meant to share our journey
however brief or lasting their stay
they remind us why we are here.

To learn... to teach... to nurture... to love

Some people come into our lives
to cast a steady light
upon our path and guide our every step
their shining belief in us
helps us to believe in ourselves.

Some people come into our
lives to teach us about love...
The love that rests within ourselves.

Let us reach out to others
and feel the bliss of giving
for love is far richer in action
that it ever is in words.

Some people come into our lives
and they move our souls to sing
and make our spirits dance.

They help us to see that everything on earth
is part of the incredibility of life...
and that it is always there
for us to take of its joy.

Some people come into our lives
and leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never ever the same.


FOOTPRINTS IN TIME

Two young lovers, Walking on the sand,
Gazing at each other, Talking hand in hand,
The prints they leave behind them,
Marking memories of the past,
The long beach laid before them,
Hoping love will last,
The ocean captures the footprints,
And erases them from the shore,
Taking with it remembrances,
And leaving them with more.

Many years have passed,
Time flies when you're having fun,
And before you know it innocence fades,
And the teen years are done,
Now she's back on the beach,
Except she is alone,
Watching and waiting,
For the love that hadn't grown,
She walks along the ocean,
Two footprints, not four,
Wondering where the laughter went,
Why he didn't love her more,
Then she stops to sit,
And draws his name in the sand,
A celestial stranger comes along,
And reaches out a hand,
Hesitantly she takes it,
And he listens to her cries,
He's been there before,
He's heard many lies,
They decide to walk,
And she follows, not knowing why.

Love will always be reborn again,
Even if it may die,
She is more cautious than before,
And as she looks back at the footprints,
She smiles seeing not two, but four,
This time will be different,
Her heart trying to say,
Something magical happened,
She felt it the first day,
Something clicked when they touched,
A jolt from inside,
She knew he'd be there always,
If she had something to confide.

Now here it is twenty years later,
And his love for her,
Is now even greater,
He looks at her like the first time they met,
And despite all the years gone by,
They can never forget,
Those four special footprints,
That are never washed away,
They'll stay forever on her heart,
Until their dying day.


HEARTPRINTS

Whatever our hands touch-We leave fingerprints!
On walls, on furniture, on doorknobs, dishes, books.
There's no escape.
As we touch we leave our identity.

Oh God, wherever I go today help me leave heart prints!
Heart prints of compassion, of understanding and love.
Heart prints of kindness, and genuine concern.
May my heart touch a lonely neighbor,
Or a runaway daughter,
Or an anxious mother,
Or perhaps an aged grandfather.

Lord, send me out today to leave heart prints.
And if someone should say "I felt your touch,"
May that one sense YOUR LOVE Touching through ME.


FOOTPRINTS OF LOVE

True love it comes and goes.
Making footprints on the soul and heart.
Securing paths through this world of woe.
Desperately struggling never to be apart..

Footprints of love make the heart stronger.
Fate causes others to drift far away.
Some passions linger a little bit longer.
Others return on a given special day..

Heart is a mansion love takes possession of.
Future promises that you would never forget.
Floating gracefully on the wings of a dove.
Always, forever loving without deepest regret..

Even love unreturned has it's rainbow.
A heart, that loves, stays forever young.
When you truly have loved with flow.
Love is only over when life is done..


Another "FOOTPRINTS OF LOVE"

Soft beams of moonlight
Snow covered hills.
A brilliant blue sky
And memories of daffodils.

A mockingbird's song
An owl in flight.
These little things
Bring such delight.

The love of a good man
The fire on the hearth.
Falling raindrops
On the tender earth.

A mountain tinged purple
A calm blue sea.
Acorns falling
From a mighty oak tree.

The smell of smoke rising
From chimneys on high.
Making its way
To clouds in the sky.

And stars shining brightly
From heaven above.
Leave on my heart
Their footprints of love.


NO FOOTPRINTS

I've listened to the "footprints" poem
a million times or more.
Of how when only one set shows
upon the sandy shore.
It is the Lord carrying us
and taking on our load.
And His are the only set
of footprints that showed.

oooO
(   )
 \ (
  \_)

But what if when we look
there are no footprints to be found?
All we see is plain and simple
sand upon the ground.
No imprints showing that our Lord
is carrying us through life.
Helping us when we feel
we cannot handle all this strife.

oooO
(   )
 \ (
  \_)

Where is my Lord now that I've fallen
and can't seem to get back up?
So tired and lonely trying to deal
with what seems an overflowing cup.
Where are those footprints in the sand
to tell me He's right there?
Helping me with problems and
showing that He really does care.

oooO
(   )
 \ (
  \_)

Does He have favorites, OH NO,
please tell me that's not so!
By why does life seem easier
for some people that I know?
And sometimes I just scream out loud
although it seems in vain,
But often it gets harder each day
to deal with all this pain.

oooO
(   )
 \ (
  \_)

And then it dawned on me as I realize
how simple could it be.
I wonder why I was so blind
that I truly did not see.
It must have been a lightning bolt
that one day gave me light,
Cause out of the clear blue sky,
I finally regained my sight.

oooO
(   )
 \ (
  \_)

I saw a fluffy white cloud
shaped like an Angel dear.
That helped me to understand
and see things oh so clear,
That when I saw no footprints
and so often wondered why,
My Lord carried me on Angel wings,
when He decided to fly.


BUTT PRINTS IN THE SAND

One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of my precious Lord,
but mine were not along the shore.
But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord,
"What have we here?"
Those prints are large and round and neat,
but Lord, they are too big for yours or my feet.
My child, He said in somber tone,
For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait.
You disobeyed, you would not grow,
The walk of faith, you would not know.
So I got tired, I got fed up,
And there I dropped you, on your butt.
Because in life, there comes a time,
When one must fight and one must climb.
When one must rise and one must stand,
Or leave their butt prints in the sand.


IN HIS FOOTSTEPS

When someone does a kindness
it always seems to me,
That's the way God up in heaven
would like us all to be...
For when we bring some pleasure
to another human heart,
We have followed in His footsteps
and we've had a little part.
In serving Him who loves us -
for I am very sure it's true.
That in serving those around us
We serve and please him, too.


THE NEW FOOTPRINTS

Now imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking along the beach together. For

much of the way the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying

in the pace.

But your prints are in a disorganized stream of zig zags, starts, stops, turnarounds,

circles, departures, and returns. For much of the way it seems to go like this. But

gradually, your footprints come in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His

consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends.

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens; your footprints that once

etched the sand next to the Master's are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside

His large footprints is the smaller "sandprint," safely enclosed. You and Jesus are

becoming one; this goes on for many miles.

But gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the larger footprints

seem to grow larger. Eventually it disappears altogether. There is only one set of

footprints. They have become one; again this goes on for a long time.

But then something awful happens. The second set of footprints is back. This time it

seems even worse than before. Zig zags all over the place. Stop...start. Deep gashes

in the sand. A veritable mess of prints.

You're amazed and shocked. But this is the end of your dream. Now you speak:

"Lord, I understand the first scene with the zig zags, fits, starts, and so on. I was a

new Christian, just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me

learn to walk with You."

"That is correct," replied the Lord. "Then, when the smaller footprints were inside

of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps. I followed You very

closely."

"Very good. You have understood everything so far." "Then the smaller footprints

grew and eventually filled in with yours. I suppose that I was actually growing so

much that I was becoming more like You in every way."

Precisely." "But this is my question, Lord. Was there a regression of something? The

footprints went back to two, and this time it was worse than the first."

The Lord smiles, then laughs. "You didn't know?" He says. "That was when we

danced."

FOR HE WILL TURN YOUR MOURNING INTO DANCING!!!


MAKE SOME MONSTER FOOTPRINTS!

Get yourself a big sponge. Like the ones you can get that they sell to wash cars with.

Cut into it to make a footprint. Put some washable paint into a big enough flat

container that will hold the big sponge. Dip your sponge in the paint. Wipe off

excess, and then sponge onto the pathway creating a path to the door etc. You will

be able to Wash off later with a some soap and water...use a hose perhaps and a

brush.


QUOTES of Footprints

"Many people will walk in and out of your life,
but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go...
Some stay and make footprints on our hearts...
And we are never, never the same."

"FOOTPRINTS IN THE SANDS OF TIME
ARE NEVER MADE BY SITTING DOWN."

"If you believe you can love without feeling pain,
then you must believe that you can run
through the snow without leaving footprints."