Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. As we walked 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, and at other times there was only one set of footprints. This troubled me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat, I could only see one set of footprints.So I said to the Lord, “ Lord, you promised me that if I followed you You would walk with me always.But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, when I needed you the most, I could see only one set of footprints in the sand.Why, when I needed you the most, you have not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “ My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you, Never, Ever. The times, when you saw only one set of footprints, They were the times when I was carrying you”:
Adapted from Mary Stevenson 1933
I’m wondering how many of us have our Christmas trees up and decorated, sparkling lights ablaze and chocolate treats adorning I’m not sure whether I should be looking in the direction of our excited children or the more mature children in front of me.
I’ll wait until Christmas Eve before maybe sticking a sprig of holly across the mantlepiece.
OhBrrr….., I’m feeling a cool shivering Dickensian draught around my neck. I think it might be the ghost of Christmas past. But there is for many of us that eager excitement of Christmas that erupts into a feel-good warm hug of reuniting with friends and family.
We have listened to some lovely verses of poetry; beautifully read this evening and we have sung some lovely carols that lift the spirit as we enter the church's season of Advent and lead into Christmas.
But for some, this is a really difficult time. A first Christmas alone, or even, another Christmas alone. Loss of friends, relatives, and partners is a hard pain to bare, made raw by the festivities around them. It shouldn’t be borne alone and doesn’t need to be.
Our last poem, FOOTPRINTS in the Sand gives the reader a powerful message of hope amid a time of turmoil. It is about a person walking on a beach with God. The person is near their life's end, and they are reflecting on a lifetime of experiences. Some of those memories are of happier better times, but mainly it reflects on times of pain and sadness. It reflects on the human emotions of emptiness and loneliness.
But its ending gives us the assuredness that we are never really, totally alone. We have a God who loves us, cares for us and walks with us every step of our way in life. In good times we feel the exuberance of life and God is wonderful. But it is in those hard times we tend to lose sight of God and it may seem that God has gone away.
The author of Footprints recognised that sense of loneliness and drew inspiration from scripture; paraphrasing Psalm 139
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.undefined
We just don’t always see him. But God is hiding in plain clear sight. He is present in those around us.
The Pilgrim’s Hospice was formed 35 years ago, the vision of a village nurse, Anne Robertson. Anne saw the need to provide support for patients and their families through the most difficult of times when support was needed the most. Today, that vision has extended from a small acorn of hope to a giant oak with its branches majestically spread out offering loving care for patients and their carers both within their hospitals and in the home. Their services to our community can be read on the back of our service booklets and more extensively on their website.
We just don’t always see him. But God is hiding in plain clear sight. God is present in those around us. Anne saw and met that need.
The work she and her teams at The Pilgrims Hospices across our county undertake has created a unique ministry to bring God’s love and care into our living rooms – when we most need it the most.
Matthew’s Gospel reflects that work in the words of Jesus. He writes:
37a “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
My prayer this evening is one of thanks to all who serve the Pilgrims Hospice; God’s angels hiding in plain sight.
May we all be encouraged that our God loves each of us as though we were the only person on earth and may we never lose sight of his presence in our lives.
As Mary Stevenson, ‘Footprints’ author wrote.
I love you and would never leave you. When you saw just one set of footprints in the sand, it was then that I carried you.