Sunday, March 11, 2007

Finding inspiration

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Seeing those disappearing footprints on the beach of Big Hickory Island reminded me of the famous poem that was always attributed to Anonymous. However, after a lenghtly legal battle, it was established recently that Mary Stevenson wrote it as a teenager in 1936.
There are many versions of it circulating around the world - which one do you know?

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 in the sand,
is when I carried you.”

Mary Stevenson Footprints in the Sand

20 comments:

kuanyin333 said...

Great pairing of photo and prose!

Pat said...

Ohhh, I love that poem. I have it on a large poster right here beside my desk and I often read it.

Thanks so very much for sharing it today. The words of it are so true and I've experienced it often--especially since my husband died.

What a lovely photo to go with it.




Pat's Photos and
Guelph Daily Photo

Jilly said...

I'd not ever seen this poem or heard of the author. What a sad life she had. thanks for sharing all this - and the beautiful photograph.

Jilly x

Jing said...

at first i thought i would see some snow in your city???
haha...
but its really nice photo after i read the poem.
thx, isabella...i learn more english poems from your blog. Nice.

have the nice weekend.

jing
shanghai daily photo

Anonymous said...

I have known this poem very long time, and always it is good to here.
Thanks for it today!

Anonymous said...

I had not heard about the attribution to Mary Stevenson, thanks for that info. That white sand is something else. I wouldn't mind walking in that "white stuff" for a change! I hope you're enjoying Sunday.

Kate said...

Dave from Alexandria, Va also posted footprints today, albeit of a totally different kind.

Dsole said...

I was going to tell you the same as Kate did, and at the first time I thought those were footprints on snow too

And this is such a beautiful poem... Really beautiful and emotive, I haven't heard it before, so thank u for let me know :)

angela said...

I'd never heard of either the poem or author so thank you for sharing it. It's very moving...
And, yes, I thought it was snow too!
Angela

Anonymous said...

New to me. So glad you posted it with your picture.

Monica said...

Isabella, this poem is very very known here in Brasil, I've read it many times. It was great to read it here, very inspiring like you said.
Those are very moving words, thanks for it!

~tanty~ said...

I've known this poem for so long but didn't know who the author was. So, thanks for the info. It is a nice photo as well.

Anonymous said...

A nice combination of a beautiful shot & a wonderful poem!

alice said...

For a little moment, i thought it had been snowing in Florida! Quel choc! And I'm happy because, this time, i was able to understand all the poem without my dictionary (ok, no pun, no thong, or anything difficult to understand, just easy enough for me!)

Ming the Merciless said...

Although I'm not a religious person, I have always loved that poem.

The white sand is absolutely beautiful.

blueboat said...

Lovely, very inspirational. And such gorgeous sand - a great photo - I can almost feel it.

Nikon said...

Very beautiful - the photo & the poem. I seem to be the only one that has never come across the poem - so I'm very lucky to have stopped by today.

Fabrizio Zanelli said...

I'm not too much into religious things but this poem sound polite and light. Thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

I am not into religious things either, I'm just worried why the footprints suddenly stop. Where did they go?

Deb said...

It's good to reconnect with this poem...oh I don't know....every day!
Very inspirational....