Who Wrote Your Story?

Some creative people may have written an original article, essay, book, or poem they wanted to share with others. They likely researched how to copyright it and make it their own (or a publisher-provided service). That layer of protection forever gave the writer solid proof and the rights to the written material. Not seeking copyright would put a person at risk if anyone else claimed it as their own. It would become a lengthy court battle.

In 2008, John Marzulli of the New York Daily News reported a fascinating "3-Way Battle" over the rights to the famous poem, Footprints in the Sand. Eventually, it was established that the late Mary Stevenson of Long Island, New York, was the 1939 author although she never knew about needing to copyright anything (she was 14 years old at the time). 

"Stevenson's main proof of authorship is an early copy of the poem, penned on yellow notepaper that has allegedly passed a forensic examination," says Marzulli. The glitch here is that the other two women who claim ownership of the poem have each "copyrighted" their verses with slightly different versions. 

No More Regrets

Like Stevenson's poem mentions, we also may feel as if God has left us on our own to figure things out and that can be a lonely place. A previous marriage or relationship hit rock bottom way too soon. Now we are walking on a sandy white beach with no one to help guide and direct us. One set of footprints. 

But wait! Read the last line of the poem:

"During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." 

We see the Lord has always been there with us throughout our entire relationship and even now that we are single-again women. He has given us that promise, and He will never ever go back on His Word! [See many images of the entire poem on-line].

Maybe it never occurred to us, or it was just too difficult amidst all the chaos in our life at the time, to reach out and ask for the Lord's presence, protection, and provision. If we have done that, then we know it can literally be a life-changing decision and one we will never regret. 

Don't wait to experience the best of the best life ever imagined. Isn’t that why we have struggled to get here? Many people hesitate to believe it's possible to have something so much better than they have ever had in the past. Or they try something else in its place--sometimes for years and years without getting any answers--but the empty hole inside of their heart will not disappear like magic. God wants to completely fill it with His L-O-V-E if we will only open the door! 

The Simple Truth

This isn't a bunch of nonsense! It's the simplest truth in the world. And that is the problem. Too many people think that accepting the Lord Jesus into their lives is just way too simple for it to be true. Why? Because all it takes is literally inviting Him into our lives using our own words.  

Right where we are, right now, we can begin by acknowledging how our life has become a mess and that we genuinely want to change it all with His help. We want to fill that hole in our hearts with His love. Isn't that true? We can just let Him know we believe anything is possible with Him writing the poem. He knows. He gets us! 

It's as simple as that, dear one. 

"So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love" (2 Peter 1:5-7 MSG).