Footprints in the Sand

Footprints in the Sand 沙灘上的腳印

Mary Stevenson, 1936  瑪麗‧史蒂文森

瑪麗‧史蒂文森這首詩《沙灘上的腳印》傳遞著神同在的應許。她說主耶穌陪她，在她最困難的時候，主耶穌抱著她，所以沙灘上本來是兩雙腳印，就變成一雙腳印。這首詩看得到一幅很簡單的圖像，對基督徒而言，在我們很困難的時候，這首短短的詩歌，就成為一個盼望和鼓勵。

One night
有一天晚上
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
我夢見我正倘佯在沙灘陪伴主旁
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
人生許多境遇，閃現過天際
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
我注意每個處境，都有沙灘上的腳印
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
有時候是兩雙腳印
other times there was one only.
有時候是一雙腳印
This bothered me
這讓我感覺討厭
because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,
因我發現，在我人生的低潮、挫敗、憂傷與煩惱時
I could see only one set of footprints,
我只見一雙腳印
so I said to the Lord,
所以我就對主說
you promised me Lord,
你曾應許我
that if I followed you, you would walk with me always.
我若跟隨你，你陪我走永不離
But I have noticed 但我注意看
that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand.
當我生命最艱難時，卻只有一雙腳印在沙灘上
Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?
為何當我最需要你，你卻不在我這裡？
The Lord replied,
主回答說
when you have seen only one set of footprints,
當你看到沙灘上，腳印只有一雙
is when I carried you.
是我將你扛