Posted by M.I.K. (216.58.69.178) on September 19, 2001 at 00:58:59:
Dear friends,
I am now PF for 9 days. I believe it is the end of this bout.
I would like to share the following prayer with all of you in the hope that it might help you as it has helped me.
I have lived through three wars and fought in one as an infantryman. I lost two sons and had my share of "discomfort" with CH. Yet I am here with you, today, in part because of a prayer a Navy chaplain gave me once, long ago. It gave me strength to go on then, as it does today. May you find it as helpful.
Footprints
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. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that at the worst times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. How could you leave me when I needed you the most?"
The Lord replied " My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of suffering and when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."