Below is the version of Footprints in the Sand by Margaret Fishback Powers, written in 1964. Margaret was the second one to claim authorship of this power poem and went on to compiled Footprints Book of Inspirations, which has sold more than 80,000 copies.
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 need 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.”
― Margaret Fishback Powers
7 thoughts on “Margaret Fishback Powers ~ Footprints in the Sand”
A wonderful illustration of Divine Providence.
Yes it is Antony!
I remember meeting Margaret and husband in Australia at a church in DeerPark, Victoria, when we were with Pro-Teens, an American youth program.
I think she was from Canada.
This week I would like to write of this meeting for our church bulletin here in Alabama, USA.
Do you know how I can contact her? I want to spread the word around about her publishing work.
Thank you
Racheltwest@gmail.com
Tele 252 414 7189
1317 Cambridge Rd Dothan, AL 36305
People may say that Margaret Fishback Powers was the second person to claim ownership of this poem, but I can confirm that she wrote it. It was written in October 1964 when I was 19. I am now 80. She and her fiance Paul Powers were on their way to Echo Lake Christian Youth camp north of Kingston, Ontario, Canada and took time to walk along the beach of Lake Ontario. The words came to her and she wrote them down that evening. Paul was the guest speaker at that camp for their ‘Colour Retreat Weekend’. I was present at that camp. She read it out to all the campers at the morning chapel service.
Later, when they had been married and were on their way to British Columbia for Paul’s next pastorate, they remembered that they had forgotten to pick up her writing from the Lawyer’s office, they drove there to pick the box of them up from him. However as the car was full and she didn’t want to carry the box on her lap as they travelled across the continent, they had to put the box in the back of the truck. When they arrived in British Columbia the box was missing. It was after that, that others claimed they had written it. It had also been written on their wedding paperwork. Someone stole from the truck, that box and several of her other writings were also published.
Margaret Fishback Powers was the true author.
I knew Margaret Fishback when we were children . I remember her as being a gifted piano player . Our dad’s were friends from their carpenter days in Norfolk .
That is so cool Bernice! Were you ever able to talk to her as an adult?