Footprints In the Sand

In my blog yesterday I mentioned the poem Footprints.
This is a well known poem of three different versions.

Mary Stevenson, 1936
Margaret Fishback Powers, 1964
Carolyn Carty, 1963

Wikipedia says
This popular text describes a dream, in which the person is walking on a beach with God. They leave two sets of footprints in the sand behind them. Looking back, the tracks are stated to represent various stages of this person's life. At some points the two trails dwindle to one, especially at the lowest and most hopeless moments of the character's life. When questioning God, believing that God must have abandoned his follower during those times, God gives the explanation: 'During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you'.

The Official Website for Footprints in the Sand operated by the estate of Footprints in the Sand has been seen in print by people the world over since the late 1940's. All that time no author has been credited with this immortal work, only 'Author Anonymous' has appeared at the bottom. This web site was created to bring to light the story behind 'Footprints in the Sand' and its author Mary Stevenson (Zangare).

For many years handwritten copies were distributed by Mary to those who needed something to give them comfort at a low point in their lives. It was sometime after this that friends of Mary saw it in print and wondered why she wasn't given credit for writing it. An attorney at that time told her that it would be very hard to prove her the author since it had been used by many publishers of religious materials and greeting cards. Mary wrote 'Footprints' in 1936 when she was very young and knew nothing of copyrighting. Discouraged she didn't pursue it any further.

In 1984 while cleaning out the garage to prepare to move from her house, in a small suitcase, among her other poems, she rediscovered a very old handwritten copy that she thought was lost. It was one of the copies Mary had made and dated 1939, just three years after she wrote the original. Later that year the U.S. copyright office awarded her a copyright for 'Footprints in the Sand' 48 years after it was written. It was another 11 years before her handwritten copy was authenticated by a forensic specialist as to its age. Margaret Fishback-Powers and many others have tried to falsely claim authorship, but none can show significant proof such as this.

What ever its history the poem speaks to many and I found it an enormous encouragement when I first came across it and it continually speaks to me.

Footprints

Also Known As "I Had a Dream"

One night I dreamed a dream.
I was walking along the beach with my Lord. 

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. 

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, 

one belonging to me and one to my Lord.

When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand. 

There was only one set of footprints.

I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life. 

This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.

"Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, 

You would walk and talk with me all the way.

But I'm aware that during the most troublesome times of my life

there is only one set of footprints.

I just don't understand why, when I need You most, You leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, 

I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. 

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you."

---

Margaret Fishback Powers, 1964

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

 All scripture is from New International Version 1984