The Footprints

[dimitri marinis]

THE FOOTPRINTS
One evening someone saw a dream. He dreamed that he was walking with the Lord on a sandy beach. Above in the sky were flashing scenes from his life and in each scene that passed he observed two pairs of footprints on the sand one of his and the other of God.

When the last scene of his life passed he looked behind his footprints on the sand.
Then he noticed that many times during the course of his life there were only one pair of footprints, the most important was that this happened during the worst times of his life.

This surprised him and he asked God.

“Lord, you said to me that should I decide to follow you You would walk with me the distance. How ever I noticed that during my difficult times of my life there was only one pair of footprints. I can not understand why you abandoned me the times I really needed you.”

God replied: My son, my dearest child I love you and I would never abandon you.
During your difficult times you only saw one pair of footprints, it was because during those times I carried you in my arms.

[Anthony]

I was told this beautiful story in a Russian version, with footprints in the snow. Obviously a faith for all seasons and climates!

I would be interested to know where it originally comes from.

Thank you, Dimitri, for putting it up.

Anthony

[Ken McRae]

Anthony posted:-

"I would be interested to know where it originally comes from."

Hi Anthony ~

These links provide the answer to your question:-

1 - A SET OF FOOTPRINTS (http://www.enter.net/~forester/footprints.html)

2 - FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND - THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE (http://www.footprints-inthe-sand.com/)

Humbly in Jesus,
Theophilus

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Anthony posted:-

"I was told this beautiful story in a Russian version, with footprints in the snow. Obviously a faith for all seasons and climates!
I would be interested to know where it originally comes from."

Hi Anthony ~

These links provide the answer to your question

Ha! The dreaded westerners stealing our Orthodox stories again! http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/wink.gif
In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Olga]

But, Fr Raphael, aren't the Russians renowned/notorious for claiming to have invented everything? Like rum babas (yum!) for instance. Not to mention a Greek lady I know insisting that the term "Hadji" referred to a Christian (Orthodox, presumably) who had made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem....http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/lol.gif

[Anestis Jordanoglou]

Dear Olga,

Hadj certainly refers to Muslims who make a pilgrimage to Mecca, but it is also the word used for Christians in Asia Minor who made a pilgimage to Jerusalem.

I know my great uncle's last name is Hadjoglou, "the son of he who makes the hadj"

[Anthony]

I must admit to being surprised, because the person who told me the story said it came from a Russian monk. And that was an Anglican clergyman, long before I became Orthodox... Anyway, thank you Theophilus for sorting that one out.

I also knew a Greek priest who described himself as "hadji" after a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. More specifically I think he referred to immersion in the Jordan as when he became a "hadji". I am not familiar with this practice and had actually forgotten the story, but maybe somebody else knows more about it.

[Basil Shannon]

I recently read in Contempory Ascetics of Mount Athos, Vol 2, that there was a respected elder on Mount Athos in the mid to late 1800's who was called Hadji George, because he had received baptism in the Jordan. I think he resided near the desert area near Katounakia. I had never heard this title before, but apparently is has applied to Christians as well for some time.

Basil

[Olga]

My comment on the Greek use of "hadji" as a humorous addition to Fr Raphael's comment was intended to illustrate that while Greeks use the term for their own purposes, it is quite obvious that the term itself is of Arabic, not Greek origin.

[Byron Jack Gaist]

I know a lot of people with the prefix "hadji" to their surname here in Cyprus. Although I'm not familiar with the etymological history of the word in terms of its use by Christians, I have assummed it to mean one who has completed a pilgrimage to the holy lands. It derives from Arabic, but of course a lot of Arabs are Orthodox, and were so before the rise of Islam. I personally find the possibility that it means "pilgrimage" or more specifically baptism in the jordan (new to me) very charming, and don't see why we shouldn't borrow the term even if it derives directly from the Muslim religion!

Forgive me if this causes any offence.

ICXC
Byron

[Theopesta]

in egypt the simple christian people call the older man, as the one who who has completed a pilgrimage to the holy lands with the prefix: "meqads" ãÞÏÓ "holy man".
the prefix "hadji" to old muslims & the one who go to saudi to maka

[Marie-Duquette]

Dear Theopesta Dem,

Interesting to hear how "hadji" is used in Egypt.

Sorry, we weren't able to read your whole message.
Pilgrimage is of great importance to most religious persons, especially those who follow the Jewish/Christian Scriptures.

In France and Canada Pilgrimage used to be of great importance for re-connecting to the Source of All Life -- God, Himself, either through His Son Jesus Christ, Mary, the Mother of God, through the Saints.

This would be an interesting "thread" to initiate.

Anyone interested?

marie_duquette

[nurse-aid]

At St.Catherine monastery on Sini...the arabs are called forgot the name, so they since the begining the ages is protect that monastery, they worked there...they fight for the safety of it...WOW...my mother bought the huge moncho from them and i wear it ones...they made it for me....WOW i see other connections...

[nurse-aid]

A shining souls, around me, beast; light, full of love…Lives of His Feast!
Look, look at them now, pray for your soul…drown in tears, not enough for that fall,
Drop on your knees…crawl to His Cross, die in the flesh, nail yourself, melt into His Cross!

And then you are IN…bloom and believe! Ready to give, and forgive and forgive!
Melted in HIM, nothing is yours…All for that purpose! Purpose of YOURS!
Be shredded in pieces…for every in need, to able give yourself to them, to believe!
Believe in YOUR presents, feel YOUR love! Reject themselves and become Your part!

[Kosmas Damianides]

May God bless us with His grace. Even if we think we don't need ithttp://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/happy.gifhttp://www.monachos.net/mb/messages/6555/20123.jpg