This is a quite well known little piece of writing, which was originally attributed to an anonymous author but it now seems that it was written by a Mary Stevenson. Like "The Dream" it is another sort of summary of what it is to be a Christian, how someone has thought to express what they feel it is all about perhaps and maybe it will mean something to you as well.

One night I had a dream

I dreamed I was walking along the beach with God and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and the other to God.

When the last scene of my life flashed before us I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at times along the path of my life there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of my life. This really bothered me and I questioned God about it.

"God, you said that once I decided to follow You, You would walk with me all the way but I noticed that during the most troublesome time in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why in times when I needed You most, You would leave me."

God replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you see only one set of Footprints, it was then that I carried you."

(Anon?{see above})