FootprintsLike all of my Christian friends, the poem "Footprints" is scattered all around my home. Even my favorite pen has tiny footprints running up and down its length. Needless to say, I love the message of that poem. Just knowing that God is there to support me when I have not the strength, courage, nor wherewithal to support myself, gives me great comfort.
As I look at the small postie with the sand-coloured footprints along its base, and the words, "that is when I carried you" along the top, it brings me to thinking about my own footprints. What kind of trail have I left in the sandy beach of life? I would like to say that they were straight, you know, to fit in the narrow way; but unfortunately, my life was hard fought for and hard won for Christ.
As a writer, I love doing research. Much of my time is deep in forensic text books. Through this research, I remember being very interested in a section on footprints. From the way they were set, spaced, aimed, or how deep they were into a soft ground, a forensic scientist could tell you a lot about the person who had made them.
As I think back on my life, I realize how very telling my footprints would be. My periods of anger would have my prints space a bit further apart, and deeper set as I charged through my days. The days when I just felt the burden was too much to handle, my footprints would be close together and would probably wander in a meandering path along my day.
There were times when my footprints would have been made with rebellious biker boots, and times when having absolutely nothing left to loose, bare feet. Times when only the partial print of my toes would show, as I danced through my day in complete joy.
Yes, each and every footprint would leave telling evidence of how my day was going and how I was dealing with it. As I have grown in my Christian walk, what great joy and comfort have come to be mine as I accept that God has been walking along with me. The more mature I become in Him, the more I can look back and recognize His footprints next to mine. And, like mine, His also have changed in reflection of how He has felt as he walked along beside me.
One thing that I know for sure, no matter whether His footprints are close together, far apart, or set deep into the sand, I know that He is walking beside me for one reason, and one reason only; He loves me.
What I pray for today, and the rest of my life is that my footprints lead me closer and closer to His throne. I also pray that along the journey, I am able to touch many who do not know Him, and introduce them to His great love and grace through Jesus Christ.
Walk on, my dear ones. Remember, God is walking along with you.
Jude
