Footprints in the Sand

Sometimes it takes looking at the world around you through the eyes of a 4 year old to realize all that God has surrounded you with. We have friends that lives on the beach (yes, even in the midwest you can have a beach) and they are kind enough to to let us "play" there from time to time. So yesterday even though in never made it above 50, my son and I took a moment to enjoy the beauty set out before us.

 Anytime I go to the beach the poem Footprints in the Sand always comes to mind. It is one of the few things I remember vividly being hung in my house when I was a child. I wanted to share it with you here if you have never read it before, I hope you enjoy...

Footprints in the Sand

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 was one only.

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 has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

---

Mary Stevenson, 1936

A Budding Promise

Like most people I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring. Spring means growth, colors bursting forth from from the dark blackened earth and most importantly fresh starts/new beginnings. My friends down in Texas are soaking up 80s and sunshine, while here in Chicago we are some days barely above 40. But it's ok. I know it's coming.

My cycle in life right now seems to be in a Spring season too. Which is truly exciting, so many promises on the horizon. I recently taught at a women's retreat, the spiritual art journaling that I have been showing you all pages of, and it went wonderfully! I made some great connections, met some wonderful women and spent some much needed time with God. Some great things came of that weekend and I can't wait to share them with you, but it's not quite time to spill the beans on the projects I'll be working on soon...

So I am hoping this spring brings you some much needed rejuvenation too, that you begin to see buds, busting through the darkened world that surrounds you and you begin to see some vibrant colors shining through.
Until then...