This is one of my most favorite poems. The author of this poem is unknown.
Footprints
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the
beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes of 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 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 the most you would leave me."
THE LORD replied, "My son, my precious child, I love you and I would
never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when
you see only one set footprints, it was then that I carried you."