One night a man had a dream. He
dreamed that he was walking along
 the beach with the Lord.  Across
the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, the man noticed
two sets of footprints in the sand,
one belonging to him,
 the other to the LORD.

When the last

scene of his life
passed before him, the man looked
back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along
 the path of his life there was only
one set of footprints.  He also noticed
that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in his life.  This
disturbed him, and he asked

the LORD about it, LORD, you said

that if I followed you, you’d walk with
me all the way.  But I have noticed 
that during the most troublesome
times in my life, there is only one set
of footprints.  I don’t understand why
you would leave me when I needed

you most.  ”My precious, precious
child,” the LORD replied, ”I love you
and I would never leave you.  During
your times of trial and suffering,
when you only saw one set of
footprints, it was then
 that I carried you.” 

Author Unknown