Footprints in the Snow

One snowy day I was biking along the mountain with my bike.
Many spectacular scenes flashed before my eyes.
In each scene I noticed bike tracks in the snow.
Sometimes there was a set of footprints,
other times there were only bike tracks.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the steep parts of the trail,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see the set of footprints.

So I said to my bike,
"You promised me, bike,
that if I cared for you,
you would give me the ride of my life.
But I have noticed that during
the steepest, snowiest parts of the trail
there have been footprint
with the bike tracks in the snow.
Why, when I needed you most,
have you not been there for me?"

My bike replied,
"The times when you have
seen only bike tracks in the snow,
is when I carried you.
These were times that made the footprints worthwhile!"

Daniel Burton with apologies to Mary Stevenson