Footprints in the Sand: A Reminder for Moms Walking Through Healing
Footprints in the Sand: A Reminder for Moms Walking Through Healing
Dear Moms,
You are constantly carrying your children through life—their hopes, dreams, daily challenges, and emotions. You give them love and strength, even when it feels like you’re running on empty. But what if I told you that just as you carry them, you are being carried too?
There’s a famous poem called “Footprints in the Sand” that speaks of a person walking along the beach, looking back to see two sets of footprints—one belonging to them, and one belonging to God. But in times of hardship, there is only one set of footprints. The poem reflects how, during the most difficult moments, God carries us, even when we feel alone.
As moms and survivors, you may have felt like there were moments when you couldn’t take another step. You’ve felt overwhelmed, exhausted, and alone, as you navigate the aftermath of trauma while being a source of strength for your children. But, just like in that poem, during those moments, you weren’t walking alone—you were carried.
Today, I want to encourage you to reflect on this poem and consider how someone (or something) has been carrying you along your journey. Perhaps it’s the support of a friend or a faith you’ve been rediscovering. Maybe it’s the resilience within yourself that you didn’t know you had. Whatever it is, just know you’re never walking alone.
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Reflecting on “Footprints in the Sand”
Let’s break this down and apply it to your life as a survivor and a mom. Here are some prompts to help you reflect on the significance of this poem and how you can honor both your role as a mom and your healing process:
1. Who Has Carried You?
Think about times when you’ve felt at your lowest, when the weight of your trauma and the demands of motherhood felt too much to bear. Who has been your source of strength during those moments?
Was it a friend, family member, or even a faith you weren’t sure existed?
Do you see evidence of someone or something lifting you up when you didn’t know how to keep going?
2. How Have You Been Strong for Your Children?
As a mom, you are a rock for your children, even when you’re struggling. You show up for them every day, even when it feels like you don’t have the strength to do so. What are the ways in which you’ve carried your children emotionally and physically, even through your own battles?
Can you think of moments when you put their needs first, despite your own struggles?
3. Recognizing the “One Set of Footprints”
In those moments of difficulty, there may have been a time when you felt utterly alone, like you were walking through life with no one to support you. But, when you look back, can you see the footprints of someone who has been carrying you all along?
Maybe it was your inner strength, the love of your children, or a higher power.
In those difficult moments, you were never truly alone. You were held, carried, and loved.
4. The Power of Self-Compassion
As a survivor, it’s easy to forget that you deserve compassion. You spend so much time giving to others that you may feel like there’s nothing left for you. But in order to continue carrying your children, you must also care for yourself.
What are some small acts of self-care you can add to your routine?
What do you need to remember about your strength that can help you give yourself grace during tough times?
5. Celebrating Your Healing Journey
Every day is an opportunity to heal. Even if you don’t feel like it, you are making progress. Celebrate the small victories.
How have you grown this year in your journey of healing?
How can you continue to honor your healing by acknowledging your resilience, no matter how slow or difficult the process may feel?
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A Prayer for Moms Walking Through Healing
Dear Lord,
I pray for every mom reading this today. I pray that You surround them with Your peace and comfort. As they carry their children through life, may they know that they are not alone in their journey. Remind them of the strength that has carried them through every difficult moment, and show them the people, the faith, or the inner resilience that has been their support. Help them to find moments of rest and renewal, and remind them of the deep well of love and compassion that lives within them.
Amen.
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Finding Time for You
Moms, you have so much to give, but you cannot pour from an empty cup. As you reflect on the footprints in the sand, know that your healing and well-being matter. You are worth the time it takes to nurture yourself—to rest, reflect, and care for your soul.
Here are a few ideas for how you can create space for yourself during your day:
Take a quiet moment to reflect, breathe, or pray.
Find a hobby or interest that brings you joy and peace.
Set boundaries to ensure that your emotional and physical well-being is prioritized.
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Remember: You Are Never Alone
Your journey is difficult, but it is also filled with moments of grace and beauty. Even when you feel like you’re walking through this life alone, know that you are being carried. By your love, your faith, your community, and even your own inner strength, you are walking forward—one
step at a time.
You are a survivor. You are a mom. You are strong. And you are not alone.
Kathe'rine