Imagine you and the Lord Jesus

walking down the road together.

For much of the way,

the Lord's footprints go along steadily,

consistently, rarely varying the pace.

But your footprints are

a disorganized stream of zigzags,

starts, stops, turnarounds,

circles, departures and returns.

For much of the way,

it seems to go on like this,

but gradually your footprints

come more in line with the Lord's,

soon paralleling His consistently.

You and Jesus are walking

like true friends!

This seems perfect, but then

an interesting thing happens:

your footprints, that once etched

the sand next to Jesus',

are now walking precisely in His steps.

Inside His larger footprints

are your smaller ones, safely;

you and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles

but gradually you notice another change.

The footprints inside the larger footprints

seem to grow larger.

Eventually they disappear altogether.

There is only one set of footprints;

they have become one.

This goes on for a long time,

but suddenly the second set of footprints is back.

This time it seems even worse!  

Zigzags all over the place.

Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand.

A veritable mess of prints.

You are amazed and shocked.

Your dream ends.

Now you pray:

"Lord, I understand the first scene

with zigzags and fits.

I was a new Christian;

I was just learning.

But You walked on through

the storm and helped me

learn to walk with You."

"That is correct."

 "...and when the smaller footprints

were inside Yours,

I was actually learning

to walk in Your steps;

I followed You closely."

"Very good.

You have understood everything so far."

"...when the smaller footprints

grew and filled Yours,

I suppose that I was becoming

like You in every way."

"Precisely."

"So, Lord, was there a

regression or something?  

The footprints separated,

and this time was worse than the first."

There was a pause as the Lord answered

with a smile in His voice.

"You didn't know?

That was when we danced."

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to weep; A time to laugh;

A time to mourn; And a time to dance:...

Ecclesiastes 3:1,4

May you have a day that makes you feel

like dancing with JESUS!