Most of you are familiar with the poem “Footprints in the Sand” (Author: Unknown)
One night, I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.
After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.
This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."
He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."
“Footprints in the Sand” is a Christian metaphor for having faith in God even when the journey is tough. It is also a popular figurative religious poem. The poem describes a person who sees two pairs of footprints in the sand, one of which belongs to God and another to another who walks with God. At a point of time along the journey, the two pairs of footprints diminish to one set of footprints. In the end, God carried the pilgrim.
I am not a poet; however, I would like to share a short story about the once-in-a-lifetime winter storm and footprints in the sand and snow in southern Mississippi. Our January 2025 family trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast is something to remember forever. We enjoyed seeing family members for the first time in thirteen years. Circumstances beyond our control, our seven-day visit turned into ten days. We were stranded due to an unexpected and unprecedented Winter Storm Enzo that shut down the airports in Gulfport, MS, and Houston, TX.
We observed via the Weather Channel and eye witness outside our hotel a once-in-a-generation historic snowfall during the snowstorm in Gulfport, MS, and other Southern States on January 20-22, 2025. It was fascinating to watch inside the Residence Inn Marriott Hotel the accumulation of snow that started early morning until evening on January 21, 2025. Reports from various sources indicated that on January 21, 2025, Gulfport, MS experienced a historic snowstorm. “The snowfall in Gulfport, MS, was significant, with reports indicating that the area received around 7.5 inches of snow. This event shattered longstanding snowfall records across the region and transformed the northern Gulf Coast into a winter wonderland.”
Our scheduled trip from Gulfport, MS, to San Diego, CA, was canceled twice due to the Winter Storm Enzo. The Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport was completely shut down. We stayed indoors all day on Tuesday, January 21, except for a few minutes; I managed to capture the snowfalls around our hotel. The last time I was in Gulfport was nearly twenty years ago during the aftermath of Super Hurricane Katrina. The Mississippi Gulf Coast was completely destroyed. The scene of devastation along Highway 90 was mind-boggling.
Here are three short lessons I learned about the storm, snow, and the sand.
First, expect a storm and suffering in your life’s journey. When Jesus sent His disciples, He warned them:
“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. 17 But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. 18 You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. 19 When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. 20 For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:16-23 NLT
Second, the powerful images of the snowflakes on the sand, ground, footprints, and sun shining on them communicate a very important message to you and me.
Capturing the brightness of the falling snow and snow on the ground is one of my favorite strategies in photography. It reminds me of the Hebrew Scripture saying,
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18 NKJV.
The Bible verse speaks of God's invitation to come and reason together, offering forgiveness and cleansing from sin. The imagery of sins being as scarlet and becoming white as snow symbolizes the transformative power of God's grace and mercy.
“Not only feel sorrow for the sin committed but break off the practice. We must be doing, not stand idle. We must be doing the good the Lord our God requires… blessed be God; there is a Fountain opened in which sinners of every age and rank may be cleansed. Though our sins have been as scarlet and crimson, a deep dye, a double dye, first in the wool of original corruption, and afterward in the many threads of actual transgression; though we have often dipped into sin, by many backslidings; yet pardoning mercy will take out the stain, Psalm 51:7. They should have all the happiness and comfort they could desire. Life and death, good and evil, are set before us. O Lord, incline all of us to live to thy glory.” Source: Matthew Henry Commentary.
The beautiful snow is here today, but someday, it will be gone. It will ultimately melt away, evaporate, or seep through the ground. The footprints in the sand and snow will soon disappear during high tide. The snow will melt away during the higher temperatures. You are enjoying your life now (and others may be suffering), but nevertheless, we will all die and disappear forever.
Life is short. The psalmist declares, “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:10-14 ESV
“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely, all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah. Psalm 39:4-5 ESV
The Apostle James recorded, Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So, whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him, it is a sin. James 4:13-17 ESV.
Third, ask yourself, "What should I do now while I am here on earth?"
(1) Start the Day Right by asking God for help or forgiveness of your sins.
(2) Always Believe in God (Jesus) in your heart.
(3) Extend a helping hand to others in need.
(4) Read your Bible and Pray every day this year 2025.
(5) Always Remember...God is GOOD ALL THE TIME.
Please don’t waste your life and time. Do something productive and positive. Help your struggling family and neighbors. Forgive those who wronged you. Love those who hate you. Always promote peace in your community.
Someday, sooner or later, your footprints in the sand and/or snow will disappear. Whatever you have, small or great, you will leave everything behind. Hopefully, the impactful legacy you leave behind will remain for a long, long time. Regrettably, that, too, will fade away. Only what you have done in the name of God will last forever. As for now, keep sharing the Good News, do a good turn daily by helping a struggling soul, always keep your eyes on Jesus Christ, and never ever forget that God will never, never forsake nor leave you.