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Margaret’s boyfriend Paul proposed. While happy, she was hesitant. She and her boyfriend seemed so different. They decided to take a little walk along the beachto discuss marriage and its importance. When they reached the far end of the beach and were about to begin their return journey, Margaret glanced down and noticed that their footprints had washed out to the sea. Turning to Paul she said, ” Well, if our married life is to be like this, we don’t stand much of a chance.”
Paul replied, “When things are tough for me, you will help me – and when things are tough for you, I’ll help you.”
They continued walking, until Margaret glanced down again and saw that only one set of footprints had washed out to sea. Again, Margaret suggested that their life together didn’t appear to have much of a future. This time Paul responded by gently lifting her up in his arms and carrying her along the beach. Finally, he set her down and said, “Margaret, I want to impress upon you that when life is so bad that we can’t seem to help each other, God will carry us.” Then, pointing to the single set of footprints the two of them had just created, Paul added, “If you just looked at the set of tracks we just made, you couldn’t tell that I carried you – but I did.”
Margaret found his words and the thoughts behind them very beautiful. that night she couldn’t sleep, so she got up and wrote these words:
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed You most You would leave me.”
The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
This beautiful piece, printed time and time again, has a love story all it’s own. She called the piece “Footprints” Today, “Footprints” is one of the most widely distributed inspirational pieces in existence. It can be found on plaques, cards and jewelry. Its power lies in its message – the message of the greatest love of all. And yes they did marry.
All competitions and concerts are free and open to the public. Seat reservations for the two winners’ concerts may be made in advance; however, tickets will only be distributed one hour before each performance.
For more information and for your seat reservation, please contact CCP at (63-2)836-4928 or 29
Angelina Sabuco, at left, is held by her mother Ginady Sabuco and twin sister Angelica, is held by aunt Marita Sabuco, at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Monday, Nov. 14, 2011 in Stanford, Calif. The twin sisters, who were born joined in the chest an abdomen, are preparing to go home after an intricate surgery by a group of Lucile Packard doctors to separate them. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Twin sisters Angelica and Angelina Sabuco have been recovering at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, United States, since their November 1 operation. Twin sisters who had been joined at the chest are preparing to leave the hospital two weeks after surgery - each in their own car seat.
Angelina and Angelica were born in the Philippines and live in the United States.
"They are recovering very, very well," said lead surgeon Dr Gary Hartman. "Our goal is to return as many children as we can to happy, healthy lives."
Hartman said the girls are off pain medications and their livers are functioning normally. He will continue seeing the girls for weekly outpatient therapy, and they will see a plastic surgeon, Dr Peter Lorenz, for follow-up procedures. Lorenz said the girls' chest walls have a bit of an abnormal shape but it can be molded as they grow.
The sisters made their post-surgery debut during a news conference at the hospital on Monday.
Wearing bright red dresses with bows in their hair and held by their mother and aunt, the girls appeared at ease with the all the attention. Their mother, Ginady Sabuco, smiled and laughed and urged her daughters to wave and say hello as they approached reporters.
"We're so excited now to go home and see them sitting in their own car seats," she said. "We cannot wait to see them playing, walking and running."
The girls are sleeping in separate beds, their appetites are growing and they are learning how to walk again. Remarkably, even as they were joined at the chest, the girls had learned to walk but would move sideways. They are now learning to go forward and backward.
"Balance is the biggest challenge," said Amy Weisman, physical therapist. "They are now taking steps with support."
The girls' nearly 10-hour surgery, paid for by the family's health insurance, was the second such successful operation at the children's hospital in Palo Alto.
A team of more than 40 doctors, nurses and hospital staff took part in the case. Within 72 hours of the surgery, both girls were breathing on her own. Within a week, they had moved from intensive care to a regular hospital room.
Ginady Sabuco said when the girls woke up after surgery they looked around and called out "mama." At that moment, she said, "all the hardships went away."