Footsteps: The Poetry of Bill W. Stoner

By Bill W. Stoner

The classroom of life is always in session. Some folks just have a gift of observing, learning, and expressing the many lessons taught that seem to escape most of us. In these writings, the opportunity to capture many of our own previously overlooked blessings and would-be cherished memories will become evident to the reader, as Bills thoughtful insights of his life experience are shared. Faith, hope, and love are undeniably expressed in this collection of life lessons well learned.

Danny Jones, President, Superior Livestock Auction

In this collection of poems spanning more than fifty years, poet Bill Stoner gets personal. He invites you to come along on a journey through his lifeto participate in both happy and sad times, to laugh and cry with him. He allows you to see inside his soul, which radiates a deep faith and trust in God no matter what comes his way.

Bill takes you to the farm, on a cruise ship, and to the basement of his parents home where all thirty-six of his family members share a bountiful meal and celebrate Christmas in the truest sense.

His poems provide insight and wisdom to help you navigate through tough times. They encourage you to help others who may follow in your footsteps even though youre not aware of it at the time. And they help you understand how trials can be stepping stones.

His love poems to his wife, Joy, will bring a smile to your face and admiration for a love that has endured for more than half a century.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 8, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490874395

Bill W. Stoner

Bill W. Stoner writes heartfelt, divinely-inspired poetry. He “hears” profound messages, and with his gift for rhyme, creates touching verse. A former executive, he is now a rancher and raises all-natural beef in northeastern Oklahoma. He lives with his wife, Joy, in Miami.

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Copyright © 2015 Bill W. Stoner.

Cover Design: Robbin McMain and Action Graphics

Photo Credit: Pamela Stukenborg, Stukenborg Photography

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotation in Broken Beyond Repair is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotation in Family Traditions is taken from The Living Bible. Copyright © 1971 by Tyndale Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.All rights reserved. The Living Bible, TLB, and the The Living Bible logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers.

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-7438-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-7439-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015904388

WestBow Press rev. date: 06/02/2015

Contents

Foreword

Preface

Faith and Inspiration

Footsteps

Burden Balloon Bouquet

Rows

Prayer of Gratitude

Wedding Blessing

Broken Beyond Repair

Good Morning, Dad

Stepping Stones

I Asked, and I Got

My Little Bill

I Cried

Problems

Shoveling

Until Then, Dad

The Vision

Resurrection

Thank You and Amen

Plant—and Water

Stress

Quick

Hang in There

My Song

Family Traditions

Enduring Love

The Beginning

Portrait of an Angel

Words From My Heart

Valentine

Can You Spare Some Time?

Jumping With Joy

I Love You

In the Middle

It’s Coming Along

House Blessing and Prayer

Then and Now

Bradley – God’s Gift

Introducing Bradley

Why?

Angels on Call

Life’s Game

Ode to Bradley

Footprints in the Sky

Forty-Four

Who Will Sing My Song?

Don’t Weep For Me

On the Lighter Side

You Can Take it With You

Practical Living?

Hold That Thought

Change

Cruise Trip Prayer

Do You Really Want to Know?

The Election

Red

A Few BWS Proverbs

Retirement

Acknowledgments

To the memory of my parents,

Cletis and Marie Stoner,

whose hard work and Christian values

left lasting footsteps for me to follow

I believe a spoken word can have a

dramatic impact on a person’s life

and that a written word can have

an even more profound effect on a

person’s life.

—BWS

Foreword

Footsteps: The Poetry of Bill W. Stoner helps people get in touch with their emotions. People who read Bill’s poetry have a variety of reactions, none of which are bland. Even men who like to keep a cap on emotional responses say such things as, I really liked your poetry, but it made me cry. Others speak about being inspired, and still others say they’ve been touched deeply. Many talk about reading Bill’s poems over and over.

For decades, Bill has been writing his heartfelt, divinely inspired poetry. In the beginning, he received messages for poems as he drove his tractor through the fields, as he performed chores, or when he woke during