One night a man had a dream.
                   He dreamed he was walking along the
                       beach with the Lord.
                   Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
.oooO              For each scene, he noticed two sets of 
(   )                  footprints in the sand; one belonging to
 \ (    Oooo.          him, and the other to the Lord.
  \_)   (   )      When the last scene of his life flashed
         ) /           before him, he looked back at the 
        (_/            footprints in the sand.
                   He noticed that many times along the
 .oooO                 path of his life there was only one set
 (   )                 of footprints.
  \ (    Oooo.     He also noticed that it happend at the  
   \_)   (   )         very lowest and saddest times in his life.
          ) /          This really bothered him and he questioned 
         (_/           the Lord about it.
                   "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow
.oooO                  you, you'd walk with me all the way.
(   )              But I have noticed that during the most
 \ (   Oooo.          troublesome times in my life there is only
  \_)  (   )          one set of footprints.
        ) /        I don't understand why when I needed
       (_/            you most you would leave me."
                   The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
                       I love you and I would never leave you.
                   During your times of trial and suffering, when 
                       you see only one set of footprints in the sand
                       it was then that I carried you."