Handprints 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 handprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of handprints, other times there was one only. One time there were five hands and a foot, but we won’t get into that.

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 handprints, 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 handprints 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 handprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

Perplexed I asked, “But Lord, why were there hands instead of footprints in the sand?”

The Lord lovingly replied, “Even I don’t know why you insisted on walking on your hands in the sand. Why do you have to make everything more difficult?!”