Footprints
One night I dreamed a dream.
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.
When the last scene of my life shot before me
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
There was only one set of footprints.
I realized that this was at the lowest
and saddest times of my life.
This always bothered me
and I questioned the Lord
about my dilemma.
“Lord, you told me when I decided to follow You,
You would walk and talk with me all the way.
But I’m aware that during the most troublesome
times of my life there is only one set of footprints.
I just don’t understand why, when I needed You most,
You 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.”
by Margaret Fishback Powers
Footprints 足跡 (マーガレット・パワーズ作)
One night I dreamed a dream. I was walking along the beach with my Lord.ある夜私は夢を見た。私は主と一緒に砂浜を歩いていた。
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
これまでの人生のいろんな場面が走馬灯のように見えた。
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord.それぞれの場面に、二人分の足跡があった。一つは私の足跡、もう一つは主の足跡。
When the last scene of my life shot before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand.最後の場面が映し出された時、私は砂浜に残された足跡を振り返った。
There was only one set of footprints. I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life.そこには一人分の足跡しかなかった。そして私は気づいた。足跡が一人分しかないのは、私の人生の中でも最低の時、最も悲しい時であったことに。
This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.“Lord, you told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I’m aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don’t understand why, when I needed You most, You leave me.”このことが私を混乱させ、私は主に文句の祈りをした。「主よ！私があなたに従うことを決心した時、あなたは、いつも私と一緒に歩んでくださると約束してくださいました。けれども、私が一番辛かった時に限って、足跡が一人分しかありません。私にはわかりません。なぜあなたは、私があなたを最も必要とした時に私を見捨てられたのですか？」
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.”主はささやかれた。「私の大事な子よ！私はあなたを愛している。そして決してあなたを離れない。あなたが一人分の足跡しか見つけられなかった大変な時。その時私は、あなたを背負って歩いていたんだよ。」