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Footprints: The True Story Behind the Poem That Inspired Millions

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A beautiful gift edition of the story behind an inspirational classiccomplete with a removable card containing the text of the poem and a ribbon markermakes the perfect gift for all occasions.

106 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1992

7 people are currently reading
137 people want to read

About the author

Margaret Fishback Powers

53 books9 followers

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5 stars
63 (32%)
4 stars
59 (30%)
3 stars
54 (27%)
2 stars
13 (6%)
1 star
7 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Lana Colby hurd.
150 reviews2 followers
October 8, 2021
Great inspiration story. To my friends: I own this book, if you want to borrow it, let me know.
329 reviews2 followers
May 26, 2013
I knew this woman was going to be in Woodstock a few days after I was going to be leaving. I went to the bookstore and bought 6 copies of the book. I wanted a signed copy for me and then the others just to be signed by her so that I could give them to friends, put one in my school library and have at least one to lend to friends. A very inspirational and moving story about this woman, her troubles and challenges as well as those of her family and how having the poem, losing the poem and then finding it again affected their lives. Numerous events are fraught with either the presence of God and his guiding hand or coincidence. This made a great discussion at the church book club.
Profile Image for Debra Clewer.
Author 13 books22 followers
March 15, 2022
I came across this book under a biography section whilst I was browsing the net for an inspirational read. It is actually an autobiography of a family's amazing journey with the Lord. I, like so many thousands of others, have seen and read this piece of prose many times over the years. And, also like so many thousands, I had no idea who the author was. That was explained by the author herself, after much of her written material went missing in a house move. Margaret Fishback Powers details many, many times when her faith, and the faith of others, had saved her and her family. It is hard not to get emotionally involved in her life story. When she discovered her writing had been stolen and no copyright redress, she went into a spin. Many years of angst later, she explained her reasons for the decision that she eventually came to, before things were set right. This piece has been an encouragement for people worldwide over a long period. There is another piece of Margaret's writing I cam across in the '90's, which at the time was attributed as an anonymous piece. It is one I have shared called A Letter from a Friend. Her family's personal struggles, alongside the spiritual ones, had me reading this book in about 2 hours. I am grateful for the inspiration that Margaret has shared throughout the tale. As in all things, God is good. Even though many would not agree, Margaret and her family would tell otherwise.
Profile Image for Phil Princey.
99 reviews
October 20, 2018
Great little book about the person who wrote the poem 'Footprints'. Authorship had always been put as 'anonymous'. The poem was every where, in frames, on mugs, and all types of merchandise and soon had variations adapted to other topics.

Well it so happens that Margaret Fishback Powers is the author of this poem (and I believe her). It has been quite a controversial fiasco around the 1980s. She had written it in the 60's.

In this book you get a brief biography and the event that inspired the poem. There are other quite remarkable stories of hardship in this book. And the overarching lesson is that of trusting God, which is what the poem is about!

It really is a delightful book with short chapters and a delightful read for sure!
Profile Image for Océane.
17 reviews
August 28, 2024
[read in the french version]

Je ne savais pas vraiment à quoi m'attendre en lisant ce livre étant donné qu'on me l'a offert et que le quatrième de couverture ne m'aidais pas vraiment car il contenait uniquement le poème "Des pas dans le sable". Ma lecture de ce livre a révélé la douce histoire d'une enfant de Dieu au travers des circonstances plus ou moins joyeuses de la vie. Force est de constater qu'en tout temps, Dieu ne nous lâche pas et si l'on ne voit qu'une seule trace de pas, c'est qu'il nous porte dans ses bras ✨
Profile Image for Baldwin Ng.
5 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2019
Re-reading this short book brought back memories of our Lord’s unceasing love. While the story revolves around the famous author of the Footprints poem, it was far more interesting to hear and learn from Mr and Mrs Powers - offering a peek into their authentic struggles and triumphs/joy in their walk with Jesus. Highly recommend this!
Profile Image for Erica Teixeira.
59 reviews6 followers
January 2, 2019
Um livro inspirador sobre a vida da autora de um poema que todos conhecemos. Muito bom!
Profile Image for Kylie Abecca.
Author 9 books42 followers
May 29, 2019
I fell in love with this poem when I was a young girl and I always wanted to know who wrote it and often wondered if there was a story behind it. This book answered all my questions.
Profile Image for Ava.
359 reviews1 follower
March 5, 2022
I like the poem "Footprints in the Sand" or "I should say In a Dream", so it was great to read the story behind its creation and who the author was.
4 reviews
May 31, 2023
Very nice story. Sometimes it jumps ahead and skips a lot of the story leading up.
Profile Image for Cassie.
26 reviews
August 14, 2025
Such a simple and light read that I received from my one-on-one Anhelina. Filled with beautiful stories, and really made me reflect on whether or not I give things to God when they feel unjust.
Profile Image for Paula.
40 reviews
November 14, 2016
"Pegadas na Areia
"LINDO este poema, ADORO

Este livro tem como titulo A verdadeira história por trás do poema..

Já há muito que aprecio este poema, não sei explicar mas sempre me senti bem quando o leio.Tenho-o no meu quarto, tenho-o em marcador de livros e gostava de o passar para quadro (mas a seu tempo). Agora uma volta do meu filho aqui pela biblioteca da nossa terra quando viu este livro, lembrou-se logo que eu iria gostar e claro que..... não se enganou. O livro é espectacular, faz jus ao poema. Muito bonita e emocionante esta história cheia de amor e coragem e o principal de tudo, MUITA FÉ.
"Obrigado filho, por me trazeres este livro, onde fiquei a conhecer o porquê deste tão lindo poema e a inspiração para este poema ter sido escrito e que eu tanto ADORO."
Profile Image for Anne Marie.
861 reviews13 followers
February 24, 2016
This was a great book about the woman who I later learned supposedly wrote the poem Footprints. I say supposedly wrote because when I looked her up on the Internet, I couldn't find her! Then looking up the poem, it seems that several people say they wrote it. Even in this book, the author said she encountered her poem in bookstores crediting other authors with writing it. But her Christian values told her to let it go and not bother with lawsuits. Whoever wrote the poem, it doesn't matter since it's so beautiful and will never get old.
Profile Image for Maria Carmo.
2,056 reviews51 followers
January 12, 2010


I read this book during a plane trip! It was quite moving and I found it interesting, not just from the incredible Faith that it shares and portrays, but also because it show's an Author's psychological reaction to the fact that their Poem was being used without any notion of who had written it! This inner conflict and the way in which it was resolved were the facets I mostly reflected upon.

Maria Carmo

Lisboa 12 January 2010
Profile Image for Nancy Wall.
1 review
September 28, 2013
We met Margaret and her husband at Dairy Queen in Tillsonburg.. Chatted with them for a while before finding out who she was... she even took a picture with our family.. and gave me her book and poem , autographed!
Profile Image for Neivy.
11 reviews4 followers
March 26, 2008
"Dan aku slalu tahu Tangan Tuhan senantiasa menggendongku kala rintangan menghadang"
Profile Image for Alicia.
30 reviews3 followers
April 19, 2008
good its interesting about the poem
Profile Image for Peter.
67 reviews13 followers
April 21, 2010
This has been an inspiration and a challenge for me. Written in an extremely simple and basic literary style, it is nonetheless a book worth reading.
Profile Image for Meredith Taylor.
78 reviews4 followers
February 11, 2012
Not sure what to think whether she is the true author or one of the other two people who have come forward to claim this amazing poem. Either way, it was an interesting and easy read.
Profile Image for Delia Huitema.
27 reviews
July 4, 2012
loved it - got to meet her in person and she is wonderful! Even got her autograph!
Profile Image for Lucy.
17 reviews
April 11, 2014
Footprints is one of my favourite poems and I enjoyed reading the story from the author that lead her to write the poem. Is is very inspirational.
Profile Image for Chas Bayfield.
405 reviews4 followers
June 2, 2022
This was a really interesting read. I had no idea that there was such a dramatic origin to the poem, and good on Fishback Powers for getting the recognition she deserves as a writer.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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