Poetry: 4. FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

               Footprints in the Sand

 Question and Answers

1. Explain where and when the speaker notices two sets of footprints.

A: 'Footprints in the Sand' is a moving poem about the boundless compassion of the Lord. One night the speaker has a dream. She is walking along the beach with her lord. The sky above them is dark. Scenes from her life appear in the sky one after the other. The speaker observes that for each scene or incident in her life there are two sets of footprints in the sand. One set belongs to her and the other to the Lord. The speaker feels reassured that God is a constant companion. He never leaves her side. She is filled with courage and confidence at the knowledge that she is never alone.

2. Narrate what the Lord says to His precious child about that one set of footprints.

A: 'Footprints in the Sand' is a moving poem about the boundless compassion of the Lord. In her dream the speaker observes that for each incident in her life there are two sets of footprints in the sand. One set belongs to her and the other to the Lord. But she notices that during the saddest times of her life there is only one pair of footprints. She is deeply disturbed. Her Lord had abandoned her at the times when she had most needed Him. She asks the Lord the reason. The Lord turns to her with infinite compassion. He calls her a precious child. He says that He will always love her and will never leaved her. He will always be at her side, especially during difficult times. He had never abandoned her in times of grief. In fact, at such times, he had carried her. The single pair of footprints she had seen were not her but His.

ANNOTATIONS

1. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

Reference: This line is taken from the poem 'Footprints in the Sand' written by Mary Stevenson.

Context: The poem is a moving narration about the boundless compassion of the Lord.

Explanation: One night the speaker has a dream. She is walking along the beach with her Lord. The sky above them is dark. Scenes from her life appear in the sky one after the other. The speaker observes that for each scene or incident in her life there are two sets of footprints in the sand. One set belongs to her and the other to the Lord. The speaker feels reassured that God is a constant companion.

General Relevance: God always loves and protects those who seek refuge in Him.

2.especially at the very lowest and saddest times,

  there was only one set  of footprints.

Reference: This line is taken from the poem 'Footprints in the Sand' written by Mary Stevenson.

Context: The poem is a moving narration about the boundless compassion of the Lord.

Explanation: In her dream, the speaker observes that for scene or incident in her life there are two set of footprints in the sand. One set belongs to her and the other one to the Lord. But she noticed that during saddest times of her life there is only one pair of footprints. She deeply disturbed and distressed. She wonders why her Lord had abandoned her during the times when she had most needed him.

General Relevance: God always loves and protects those who seek refuge inhim.

3.When you saw only one set of footprints 

   It was then that I carried you'

Reference: This line is taken from the poem 'Footprints in the Sand' written by Mary Stevenson.

Context: The poem is a moving narration about the boundless compassion of the Lord.

Explanation: In her dreams the speaker observes that for each incident in her life there are two set of footprints in the sand one set belongs to her and other to the Lord. But, during the saddest times of her life there is only one pair of footprints in the sand. She is deeply disturbed and distressed. She thinks that her Lord had abandoned her during difficult times. Upset she questions him. The Lord turns to her with infinity compassion. He says he had never abandoned her in times of grief. In fact, at such times, he had carried her. The single pair of footprints where not hers but his.

General Relevance: God always loves and protects who seeks refuge in Him. But we may not understand his ways.