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

A Walk on the Beach

There is something about spending some time away from your familar surroundings to just forget the pressures of life and focus on what makes you feel good.

While down in Wellington for the weekend Harry and I went for a walk, in the break of the weather, on Peka Peka beach to let the sea air blow through us.

We took Jess, Frank and Sue's elderly dog for a romp. She kept us busy bringing back the stick we through to her.

My childhood years were spent in the coastal town of Paekakariki and so the view of Kapiti is a view that reminds me of days on the beach, what ever the weather.

As usual God spoke to me, as I took in the beauty of God's creation.

At times it may feel like we are all alone and the waves of life too much for us but when we know God's plan for us we know that this is where we belong. We were made to be here at such a time as this.

Esther 4:14 ... who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

What ever is in the past or the messes we made yesterday every day is new and we are able to start again with a clean 'sheet'.

Lamentations 3:22-23

²² Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

²³ They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

When I saw some shoe prints I was reminded of the poem "Foot Prints"

Someone's castle was being eroded by the waves and rain. I felt special to have had a glimpse of the joy they had had building it, but was also reminded of what I built my faith on.

Matthew 7:25-27

25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Even Jess was leaving a trace of her fun on the beach and I was reminded that we always need to be aware of what impression we are leaving for others to see.

But I also found that being with Harry brings a warmth to my heart and no matter what we are going through, his smile makes my day.

All scripture is from New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

He stepped in a puddle

Doctor Foster

Went to Gloucester

In a shower of rain.

He stepped in a puddle

Right up to his middle

And never went there again!

This morning I was in a hurry as we are traveling south to Wellington later this evening and I have a lot of errands to do before we leave.

Rushing around, I misjudged a puddle and needless to say, although I didn't end up to my middle in it, my shoes are now drying in the hot-water cupboard!
As I clambered back into the car, after my mishap, the nursery rhyme above went through my mind.
I am loving the way these childhood rhymes are still with me, so to speak, and so I am intrigued to find their origins.

This poem is believed to be from England and about King Edward 1 and a trip he made to Gloucester. This is from English history dating back to the Plantagenet monarchy of the 13th century. It was told as a warning to children in bygone days, prior to modern roads, that what may appear to be a shallow puddle could in fact be much deeper!

Supposedly, in this rhyme Dr. Foster is King Edward I of England. He traveled to Gloucester in the middle of a rainstorm. When he entered Gloucester his horse fell and both he and the horse ended up in the middle of a huge mud puddle. King Edward 1 (June 17, 1239 – July 7, 1307) was a powerful man, over six foot tall . The town's people had to use planks of wood to remove both King Edward and his horse from the mud. King Edward was enraged by this misfortune and refused to return to Gloucester.

Gloucester is pronounced as "gloster" and rhymes with Foster. The Real Mother Goose (published in 1916 and illustrated by Blanche Fisher Wright) spells it as "Glo'ster" in their version.

The rhyme was first published in its modern form in 1844( also The Big Book of Nursery Rhymes (circa 1920) edited by Walter Jerrold (1865 – 1929) and illustrated by Charles Robinson.) although the rhyming of 'puddle' with 'middle' suggests that it may have originally been the archaic 'piddle' for a stream and that the verse may therefore be much older.

Geraldine Granger - The Vicar of Dibley

And of course let us not forget the Vicar of Dibley when she fell in a puddle right up to her middle!

When Your Faith is on Trial

The other day a good friend told me that she, her husband and others see me as a woman of faith. I didn’t think so, as at times I really struggle and think I am letting God down when the joy of the Lord just doesn’t seem to radiate out of me.

I feel as if my faith has let me down and I am about to curl up in a shell like a snail because it’s all too much and my “self” wants to run away.

They have seen me over the last 25 years bring my five children to church every week on my own and see this and other struggles I come through as my great faith.

I have just had a really hard time in my marriage and struggled again with whether it was going to last through this ‘test’. 

But right at the right time God was there for me.

It was Saturday and I was on my own. I hadn’t been up-to-date with my daily readings. I was really feeling sorry for myself and wondering if this was just the last straw and maybe everyone was right it was time for a new life alone. In my despair I was checking emails and for some reason Saturdays reading arrived by email.

I have been getting The Word For Today this way as well as the booklet from Radio Rhema but for some reason the emails just hadn’t been coming through most days. This is what it said.

Your Faith Is on Trial

Written by Bob & Debby Gass

Saturday, 4 June 2011

'...do not think it strange...' 1 Peter 4:12 NKJV

 

Faith in God doesn't exempt you from life's trials; it sustains you in them and you grow stronger as a result of them. Trials come in different areas such as sickness, unemployment, relational conflict, and personal challenges. And trials have different time lines; some last a short season, others a lifetime. And trials, like storms, have different intensity levels. But most trials have one thing in common: they make you say, 'If only I could understand why this has happened.'

The Bible answers this question in two Scriptures: 'Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all' (Psalm 34:19 NKJV); and '...for a little while...you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory...' (1 Peter 1:6-7 NKJV). God is not Santa Claus or your butler. It's not His job to give you everything you want, exactly when you want it. Yes, God has promised to bless us, but when you focus on 'getting', by implication you question the faith of those who may not have as much as you. That's a mistake.

Claiming God's promises doesn't mean you will escape adversity. Who told you that anyway? Not God! His Word says, 'Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.' Real maturity often takes place in the crucible of pain. The truth is, you'll never know how strong your faith is until you've been there. 

I struggled with this but knew it was totally from God. Why this day, of all days, did the reading come through?

I took my son to a friend of his for the day and on the way I cried in my heart to God. “I understand but I just want to be happy”

God said my happiness was to be in Him. I could always have the joy of the Lord whatever was going on around me. 

I wanted to know where the blessings were and He told me “in your family, your children, grandchildren and their love for me.”

I spent the next day and a half staying at some friends and read the bible, prayed and sort my strength form God.

I read many verses from 1 Corinthians chapters 7 to 10 and the more I read the more God showed me He wanted me to stay in the marriage and know He would bring me through. I would have to be strong in Him.

²⁶ Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. ²⁷ Are you married? Do not seek a divorce.

³⁴...But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. ³⁵ I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

I made the decision to listen to His voice and having strength in Him I was able to talk to Harry and worked through the crisis.

Suffice to say God has been true to His Word and we are standing strong again.

There is still work to be done but we will continue building a stronger marriage.

All scripture is from New International Version 1984 (unless otherwise started)