Carry Me
The nurse on the late night shift walked into her
patient's room in the intensive care unit and checked on his
IV's and heart monitors. The day before he'd suffered
cardiac arrest. The seasoned caregiver sat down in the chair
beside his bed to observe him for a moment, compassionately
laying her hands upon his arm. She knew well the importance
of caring and encouragement to patients in these critical
first few days of a life-threatening crisis. Seeing him
stir, she asked softly, "Are you awake?"
"Yes," he nodded.
When he opened his eyes and looked over at her, his need for
comforting so spoke to her heart that she asked him if he
wanted her to pray with him.
"Oh, yes," he murmured.
And so she did. Then, certain her patient would find added
solace and strength from her favorite prose -- one she
always carried with her-the nurse withdrew a piece of paper
from her pocket and read:
"One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking
along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes
from his life. For each scene, 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 flashed before
him, he 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 really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about
it. 'Lord, you said that once I decided to follow 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 when I needed you most,
you would leave me.'
"The Lord replied, 'My precious, precious child, I love you
and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and
suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was
then that I carried you.'"
Pausing to let her patient savor the heartfelt prose -- and
to dab at the tears it always brought to her eyes -- the
nurse then smiled and patted his hand. Carefully she
refolded the well-worn paper and gently slid the essential
and invaluable balm back into her pocket. Over the years she
had witnessed its healing power and knew it proved to be as
calming as any sedative she administered. "No matter how
many times I read it, I still find it beautiful," she said,
"such profound food for the heart and soul. It's called
Footprints. I wish I could tell you who wrote it, but I
don't know who did."
"I do," the man replied, love-filled memories once again
transporting him back in time. Thinking he wasn't fully
conscious because of the medications he was being given, the
nurse didn't give much thought to his comment. But Paul
Powers, the patient, did know the author. She was his wife
-- as well as his professional partner, the mother of his
children and the love of his life.
The prose the nurse had read began as a love story-his own.
When Paul proposed to Margaret, some 30 years before, she
was happy, yet hesitant. She and Paul had such different
backgrounds. Margaret knew the choice of a husband was one
of the most important decisions she would ever make. She
asked herself the questions most brides-to-be pose to
themselves. Could a marriage between them work? Margaret
felt that despite their shared values and faith, there
remained obstacles to their happiness. Doubts assailed her.
The day of the proposal they'd traveled to a conference as
part of Paul's work with a youth ministry. Stopping at a
nearby beach, they decided to take a walk along the shore to
discuss marriage and its importance.
Walking along, one moment speaking seriously and the next
laughing as they dashed in and out of the waves rolling onto
the shore, they were young and in love, filled with hopes
and dreams. Still, Margaret had her doubts. What would her
parents say? Was she ready to marry? Did she and Paul fully
understand the responsibilities of marriage? Were they ready
to commit their lives to such a partnership? Could they
weather turbulent times? As they reached a point on the
beach where they decided they should turn around and go
back, Margaret glanced down and noticed their footprints had
been washed away by the tide. Thinking it was an omen,
Margaret pointed at the shore and remarked, "Maybe that's
what will happen to us... Maybe our dreams are all going to
wash away."
Undaunted, Paul replied, "When things are tough for you,
I'll help you. And when things are tough for me, you'll help
me. We will help each other. That's the way a good marriage
works." But as they continued walking, Margaret once again
glanced down, this time noticing that only one set of prints
had been washed away. Again Margaret was disturbed by what
she saw, thinking it didn't bode well for their future.
"Well, if our married life is to be like this," she said,
pointing out the single set of prints, "we don't stand much
of a chance." At this, Paul gently swooped his love up onto
his shoulders and carried her along the beach. Finally
setting her down, he said, "Margaret, I want to impress upon
you that when life gets so bad that it seems there's nothing
we can do to help each other, God will carry us." Then,
pointing at the single set of footprints the two of them had
just created, Paul explained, "Judging from the tracks we
just made, you couldn't tell that I carried you, but I did.
And that's the way it works with God."
The turmoil, confusion and uncertainty Margaret was feeling
over whether or not it was right for her to marry Paul would
bring forth an impassioned repartee, one that would produce
a pearl for the whole world. Certainly she found Paul's
words fortifying and reassuring in relation to the weight of
her deciding on marriage. Here was a man who vowed he would
be with her through good times, bad times, all times: It was
a wondrous thing to have found Paul, a loving, kind and good
man, and one so committed to the spiritual beliefs they both
shared. She did believe that God would carry them when as a
couple they were unable to bear their troubles alone.
But Paul's words carried significance beyond the two of
them. As a Christian woman she knew how encompassing God is,
and so this promise of support would be not only be
available to the two of them, but a gift available to
anyone: All of us at one time or another experience tough
times, heartache or loneliness and when we do, we need
comforting. While others may reach out to love us and offer
us solace, no one can mollify what ails us and replace our
heartache with the serenity and strength that a power
greater than ourselves can. Like the caretaking arms of a
loving earthly father willingly offer solace to his child,
the loving and faithful arms of her heavenly Father would
reach out to offer everyone even more: Through our times of
most profound need, any and all of us would be carried.
That night, as these thoughts stirred within her, Margaret
recalled Paul's words and envisioned their enactment. So
moved by this, Margaret got up and, recollecting the words
so clearly etched on her heart, placed pen to paper and
"Footprints," a piece that is loved the world over -- a
piece brought about after hours of wrestling with the
darkness of doubt and despair -- was recorded.
Today, Paul and Margaret continue to work side by side in
youth and children's ministries, and they have two grown
daughters. Through the years, just as Paul promised, they
have helped each other. Footprints, the outcome of
Margaret's turmoil continues to comfort them, and so many
others during times of struggle -- just as it gave Paul
comfort while recovering from a heart-attack. In fact,
"Footprints" is one of the most widely distributed
inspirational pieces in print. Even when the original
manuscript of "Footprints," packed in a box with other
documents, was lost by a moving company when the author and
her family relocated across country, the prose refused to be
lost to readers in need of its comfort and strength, and
began to appear printed anonymously.
Years later, Margaret Fishback Powers proved that she is
the legal and rightful author. It has since become one of
the most treasured pearls in all the world, literally worn
by millions as they confront their own heavy hearts-and turn
their eyes heavenward for comfort during "the very lowest
and saddest times" of their lives. Hearing the words, "My
precious child, I love you and would never leave you," our
hearts are touched by a soul-deep knowledge that we are
precious in His sight, and that we are in His sight always.
With these words, we know that we are loved and sustained
unconditionally, and are granted the succor of a sense of
connection with the greatest caretaker of all.
The omnipotent lustrous pearl of "Footprints" reminds us
that we are never, ever, alone.
"Footprints" prose Footprints by Margaret Fishback Powers, ©
1964 Margaret Fishback Powers, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House. Reprinted with permission.
Bettie B. Youngs, Ph.D. Excerpted from A String of Pearls
(Adams Media, 2001).
bettie@tasteberriesforteens.com
***********
Bettie B. Youngs, Ph.D., Ed.D. is a former teacher of the
year, former university professor and the author of 21
books. With her daughter Jennifer Leigh Youngs she has
co-authored the best-selling Taste Berries for Teens series.
Bettie has appeared frequently on CNN, NBC Nightly News, and
Oprah. Jennifer is a speaker and workshop presenter for
teens nationwide. You can write Bettie by clicking here:
mailto:bettie@tasteberriesforteens.com
Be sure to visit their web site at:
http://www.tasteberriesforteens.com