FOOTPRINTS

By Margaret Fishback Powers

One night a man had a dream.
有一個人某天晚上作了個夢
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD.
夢見他正與上帝一同走在海邊
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
在天空彷彿看見他的人生如戲一般一幕幕撥放著
For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand:
每一幕他都注意到在沙灘上留下兩付腳印
one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.
一付是他的，另一付是上帝的
When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
當他人生的最後一幕在眼前閃過時
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
他回頭看著在沙灘上的腳印
He noticed that many times along the path of his life
他注意到在他人生的許多時刻
there was only one set of footprints.
只有一付腳印在那裡
He also noticed that it happened
他也注意到這些時刻
at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
正是他人生最低潮與悲傷的時刻
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it:
這使他感到非常困擾，於是他開口質問上帝：
"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you,
主啊，你說從我決定跟隨你的那一刻起
you'd walk with me all the way.
你就會一路與我同行
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life,
但我注意到在我人生最艱困的時刻
there is only one set of footprints.
只有一付腳印在那裡
I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
我不明白為什麼當我最需要你的時候，你卻離我而去
The LORD replied:
上帝回答說：
"My son, my precious child,
我的孩子，我寶貴的孩子
I love you and I would never leave you.
我愛你，並且我永遠不會離開你
During your times of trial and suffering,
在你受到考驗與受苦的時候
when you see only one set of footprints,
也就是你所看到只有一付腳印的那段時間
it was then that I carried you.
是我背負著你走過去的痕跡