Mary's Story - Mary Stevenson --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mary was born November 8, 1922 in the Philadelphia suburb of Chester, PA. She had many brothers and sisters, but was still able to maintain her individuality and strong headedness. This became even more difficult after the loss of her mother at age six, which forced her father to raise all eight children by himself. Most of her childhood was spent during one of this Nation's toughest and most trying times, The Great Depression.
It was in her early teens when she first wrote 'Footprints in the Sand' having been inspired by the many things that had affected her young life. She was so moved by the power of the words she wrote that she felt the need to share its meaning with those who could gain strength from it in their time of need.
At age sixteen she got into an abusive marriage that resulted in her flight and finding refuge on an Indian reservation outside of Claremore, Oklahoma with her infant son. She was able to return home after getting word that her husband had gone off to fight in WWII. During his absence she was forced to support herself by working at Philadelphia's Troc as a stage performer and dancer. Because of this her husband was able to take their son away from her upon is return from the war using his influence with local officials. She spent many years trying to get her son back.
Mary eventually moved to Los Angeles in the late 40's where she met her future husband Basil Zangare whom she referred to as 'the love of her life'. It was at this time that she first saw 'Footprints in the Sand' in print with 'Author Anonymous' as the only credit. Several attorneys discouraged her from pursuing her claim to it for lack of proof. But her greatest battle was with polio and the accident that almost took Basil from her.
In 1959, the year after her second son Basil jr. was born the family moved to Orange County, just southeast of Los Angeles. Over the years Mary kept herself busy as a nurse and working in the community volunteering for many activities. She was recognized many times for her work including 'Vietmoms' which she organized to send personal supplies and home baked items to servicemen stationed in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.
In January 1980 she lost her husband Basil in his battle with heart disease. Mary continued on with her work but decided it was time for a change of scenery. She moved out of the home she shared with her family for over twenty-five years. During the move she came across a small forgotten valise filled with many of the poems she had written over the years. Among all this was a lost copy of 'Footprints in the Sand' that she hadn't seen since moving into the house in 1959.
She decided to pursue her claim to authorship and later in the year was awarded a copyright for her poem. Eleven years later her 1939 copy of 'Footprints in the Sand' was authenticated as genuine by a forensic specialist and said to be approximately fifty-plus years old. This would pre-date any claims made by others of authorship including Margaret Fishback-Powers who has said to have written it 1964.
Mary worked for many years to gain recognition for creating 'Footprints in the Sand', which has continued even after her passing in January of 1999.
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Not everything I post or say on foro are necesarily true facts. <- THAT is a fact! :blankstare:
Daeveed wrote: oh man!!! I love Wayne Shorter!!! If you ever actually show up to another gathering.....I'll tell you some stories. We got to open up for his quartet a couple of years ago in Rimouski. That guy is messed up!!! Crazy!!!
I read this before somewhere. I thought it was beautiful then, and I think that it's beautiful now. Thanks for posting it. It's one of those things that make you think.
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 in 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 son, my 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."
By: Mary Stevenson (1922-1999)
La version en Español:
Huellas de Pisadas sobre la arena
Una noche soñe que hiba caminando por la playa junto con Dios. Muchas escenas de mi vida resplandecieron ante mi, sobre el horizonte. En cada escena noté que había huellas de pisadas sobre la arena. A veces habían dos conjuntos de huellas de pisadas, otras veces solo había un conjunto de pisadas.
Esto me molestó porque noté que durante las etapas mas bajas de mi vida, cuando yo estaba sufriendo de angustia, pena o derrota, solo podía ver un conjunto de pisadas.
Así es que le dije a Dios, "Tu me prometiste, Señor, que si yo te seguia, siempre caminarías conmigo. Pero he notado que durante los períodos más penosos de mi vida solo ha habido un conjunto de pisadas en la arena. ¿Por qué, cuando más te he necesitado, no has estado allí para apoyarme?
El Señor me contestó, "Las veces que solo has visto un solo conjunto huellas de pisadas sobre la arena, son cuando yo te llevaba cargando."
Mary Stevenson
-- Edited by LGigolo at 15:41, 2005-12-05
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Not everything I post or say on foro are necesarily true facts. <- THAT is a fact! :blankstare:
If you ever actually show up to another gathering.....I'll tell you some stories. We got to open up for his quartet a couple of years ago in Rimouski. That guy is messed up!!! Crazy!!! 
"Most of us fall short much more by omission than by commission."
Me too 
