FOOTPRINTS ...

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 belonging 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 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 son. My precious child, I love you
And 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."

LEAN ON ME

As the road ahead seems rugged
And the path is getting steep,
I feel that I can't make it
So my heart begins to weep.

Then I turn to see who's coming
To join me on my way.
I see it is my Lord
And He slowly turns to say

"Lean on me.....
When you have no strength to stand.
When you feel you're going under,
Hold tighter to My hand.

Lean on me......
When your heart begins to bleed.
When you know I'm all you have,
Then you'll find I'm all you need."

Then when I felt that no one cared
If I lived or died,
And no one bothered asking why
I'd go alone to cry.

When the burden got so heavy
I could barely face the day,
I felt His arms around me
As I gently heard Him say

"Lean on me......
When you have no strength to stand.
When you feel you're going under,
Hold tighter to My hand.

Lean on me......
When your heart begins to bleed.
When you come to know I'm all you have,
Then you'll find I'm all you need."

TO MY CHILD...

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face, and laugh when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is.

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my fingers through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children; the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms; and the mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little tighter, and a little longer.

It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day...