Another way to look at "Footprints"

I was recently talking to a friend of mine about the Footprints poem. When he mentioned the story, I was reminded of a client of mine who had lost his wife recently to breast cancer. He had cared for her for 17 months while this cancer grew in her body. He had just buried his wife a few days before he came to see me for a massage. It was one of those times where right away we could tell that we were both members of the church and that it was no coincidence that he was scheduled with me. Anyone else could have massaged him, but he was scheduled with me and it seemed to be what both of us needed. He needed the relaxing massage and I needed to hear about his experience. Anyway, he mentioned the Footprints poem to me:

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Scenes from his life flashed across the sky and he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to him and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life had flashed before him, he recalled that at the lowest and saddest times of his life there was only one set of footprints. Dismayed, he asked, "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me.

The Lord replied, "My precious child. I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you saw only one set of footprints... That was when I carried you."


But then my client said to me, "I think of that poem a little differently. I like to think of lots of sets of footprints in this sand. They are all of the people who are put in our path while we are going through trials. They are, of course, friends and family...but also visiting and home teachers, bishops, people who bring you meals...(and the list went on)." He went on to say , "some of the footprints are deeper than others. But these are the people who carry you. It's why we were given stakes and wards. It's why the church was organized the way that it is. And then gradually, as we heal and need these people less and less, the footprints begin to fade (though these people will always be there for us when we need them). And when we are strong enough to stand again and have grown and learned, then we are ready to be a set of footprints for someone who needs us to carry them."


So there have only been a few times when I have cried while giving someone a massage, but this was one of them! He had just lost his wife but you could tell that his spirit was so strong. I just think that is a beautiful, different way to look at that poem that we all know so well. And I will leave it at that:)