Footsteps In Faith: A Collection of Poems

By Melanie Schatzel, M.Ed.

Sometimes a writer takes a chance to showcase a different side of who they are. As a creative writer, most known for her inspirational short stories, and faith-based devotionals, Melanie Schatzel, M.Ed. has compiled a collection of beautiful poetry for this book. Each poem is different in style and approach, but all follow a simple pattern of growth from infant to adult, from birth to death, to include perspectives from both male and female. She confesses that poetry was encouraged through inspiration for a year-long search to develop her faith and trust in the Lord in the Introduction. And through the collection of poems, readers can relate to this growth on a very personal journey.

Take a moment to read, to pray, to ponder these poems. View this creative writer for a moment as a poet, and take a leap of faith. Read with an open heart and welcoming mind as you search your soul for a connection that so few readers get a chance to make with this writer and poet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 13, 2024
• ISBN: 9781304552686

Book preview

Footsteps in Faith: A Collection of Poems

By

Melanie Schatzel, M.Ed.

Copyright

Footsteps In Faith: A Collection of Poems

Ebook Version

Copyright © 2024 Melanie Schatzel, M.Ed.

All Rights Reserved

ISBN:  978-1-304-55268-6

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Dedication

This collection of poems took over a year to complete.  During that time, my husband, Thomas, has had to support our family. My son, Trey, would often check in on me.  My sister, Shay, would keep encouraging me.  I only hope that through these poems they each know that a writer needs people like them, and I am grateful they were there.  I am normally not a poet, so I am grateful most of all to the Lord and the Holy Spirit for inspiring me and compensating for my weaknesses.

Introduction

I began a journey in the early months of the year 2023.  My intentions were to write stories for people, to capture them in photographs, and then combine the two to create beautiful, traditional works for them to read.  But, over time, my goals changed as I was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write poetry. 

I am not a strong poet.  I prefer writing stories.  But the experience of being inspired to write, to follow through with the writing, and then rereading the written words encouraged me to keep nurturing my faith, grow my trust, and continue forward. 

By the end of 2023, there were no books about other people. In fact, there is a collection of books that became a part of a series titled, From Shutter To Story’s Devotionals; when they were almost complete, I discovered that my weakness in knowledge, my insecurity in learning new software for my computer and editing photographs, stopped me from reaching all goals of publishing the books. 

When this year, 2024 began, I was devastated with the end of 2023 results.  I had not one single published book because I could not understand editing of photographs.  I was a new photographer last year, and the photos are simply inspiring!  But not because of me.  I followed promptings from the Spirit.  But I let my own doubt cloud my progress and my mind and I gave up too soon.  The photos were never edited or inserted in the books. 

By October of 2023, my husband insisted I return to work.  Applying for jobs is extremely time-consuming, but also necessary for us to support our family.  And all I could think about was all that wasted time, those beautiful words, those inspiring moments that I could not and would not be sharing with the world of readers who might be interested.  Months later, I am still unemployed, and we are now into spring for 2024.  I am still applying daily for jobs, and going to interviews without a single offer of employment.  This can be as devastating as not having works published.  I was sharing my woes with my sister.  My sister who had heard me tearfully confess my disappointments suggested I return to writing short stories.  I love writing short stories, and I followed her suggestion.  Thus, my work for 2024 returns to my comfort area of creative writing, but with a new focus on faith-inspiring content. However, it was my son, Trey who once again stated, Come on, Mom!  Write the way people are reading nowadays.  In his own way, he was telling me to learn Ebook formatting and get busy.

Today, I have a few short stories already published in Ebook format.  I am still going to finish the traditional books for the From Shutter To Story’s Devotionals as long as I have time and am still unemployed—oddly a blessing and yet not.  But as I was preparing stories for Ebook format, I thought about a collection of poems I submitted for a contest.  And I decided to compile them together and try an Ebook for them as well. 

I am grateful for the skills and talents the Lord has given me to write.  I am grateful for the help with writing poetry.  I am happy to be returning to writing creative stories.  And I look forward, now, to editing those waiting photographs and getting my book series out to the public.

I cannot begin to express how important your comments, your reviews, and your support means to me, my writing, and my family.  But what I hope most from all this is that I inspire you to find your own path to hearing the Lord speak to you.

The following collection of poems is written with the idea of growing in faith from infant to adult to old age in phases to include perspectives from all ages, and male and female.  I hope you enjoy the poems.

Dear Baby

Dear Baby,

You are a special gift

from the moment you are given a body.

You are a visitor

like your Mom and Dad in this world.

You are here because you said, I will go.

Your life may be swift--

you only needed a temple—a body.

Your life may be a blur--

you were here, and suddenly returned.

The why your Mom and Dad may never know.

You may merely be kissed

before quickly given to somebody

with skills to care as a doctor

for your body came injured in this world;

perhaps, your struggles only they grow to know.