Raymond James

A rose once grew
where all could see,
sheltered beside
a garden wall,
And as the days passed
swiftly by,
it spread its branches, straight and tall...

One day, a beam of light
shone through
a crevice that had
opened wide ~
The rose bent gently
toward its warmth
then passed beyond
to the other side

Now, you who deeply
feel its loss,
be comforted ~ the rose blooms there ~
its beauty even greater now,
nurtured by
God's own loving care.

X X

October 28, 2008

HI

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes
from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two
sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one
set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

"You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me
always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed
you most, have you not been there for me?"

The Lord replied, "The years when you have seen only one set of footprints,
my child, is when I carried you."

Edward Ofarrell

October 28, 2008