Footsteps, Faith & Fulfillment
What Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life Teaches Us About God
With Martin Luther King Jr. Day just last Monday, and Black History Month starting on February 1st, it’s the perfect time to tell you about this newly released book by my friend, Corine Williams. Corine did an amazing job of writing and illustrating Footsteps, Faith & Fulfillment which is part of the God at Work in History series.
In Footsteps, Faith & Fulfillment, Corine steps back in time to when Martin Luther King Jr. was a little boy, and how he loved God, people, and he loved asking questions.
The world he grew up in often felt unfair and he didn’t understand why things were so hard. One of the illustrations depicts the segregation and discrimination that was commonplace in that time in history. It shows little Martin with two signs behind him; one sign says, “Colored Waiting Room” with an arrow pointing away, while the other is above a water fountain with just two words, “Whites Only”. Imagine trying to explain to your child that he couldn’t drink from the water fountain because of the color of his skin. The text that follows this illustration handles it with sensitivity as Martin asks his father, “Why don’t people treat everyone the same?” “His father said, ‘That’s a good question, son. Not everyone follows God’s ways, Martin. But God calls us to walk in love.’”
“Martin wondered, ‘How do I follow God when the path feels confusing?’” He then prayed that the Lord would show him what to do. “And God whispered to his heart, ‘Walk with Me . . . One step at a time.’”
Martin learned that you don’t have to see the whole road. You just have to take the next step with God. And he did. Young Martin grew in his relationship with God, and he knew God was with him always.
“So he kept going . . . step after step after step.
Not because the journey was easy, but because God was faithful.
And Martin said words we still remember today.”
Faith is taking the first step
even when you don’t see
the whole staircase.
Martin Luther King Jr.
I encourage you to pick up a copy of Footsteps, Faith & Fulfillment on Amazon to share with your children. It will raise questions and lead to discussions about how things were decades ago in this country when discrimination was commonplace and people were treated unfairly because of the color of their skin.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
“Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor, leader, and man of great faith. He believed that God calls us to walk in love, seek justice, and trust Him even when we cannot see the whole path.
Martin followed God one step at a time, preaching peace, choosing courage, and standing up for what is right.
His obedience changed the world, and his faith continues to inspire people today.”
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other.
Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
John 13:34 NLT
Jesus replied:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:37-38
In these turbulent times when it can be difficult to know what is truly going on, what to believe, who to listen to or trust, let the Bible be your Anchor. Let the Words of Jesus speak Truth to every situation and be the measuring rod between Truth and lies.
(All quotations are direct quotes from Footsteps, Faith & Fulfillment.)
Until next time, God bless you.
Virginia
Virginia Finnie is the author of Hey Warrior Kids! Grab Your Slingshot!, Hey Warrior Kids! Put On Your Armor!, and It’s a Super-Bad Terrible Day!. Follow Children’s Books by Virginia Finnie for daily inspirational posts. https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensBooksbyVirginiaFinnie
Revised Version:
This looks like a great book. I’ll plan to get one.
Thanks, Janice. As I was writing this post I was moved by how relevant Martin Luther King Jr.’s message is today. We are once again seeing a people group being singled out and experiencing discrimination based on the color of their skin and how they speak. We must hold on to the teachings of Jesus.
Virginia, thank you so much for this thoughtful and gracious review. I’m deeply grateful for the care you took in highlighting the heart of Footsteps, Faith & Fulfillment. My prayer has always been that children would see they don’t need the whole road, just the next step with God. Thank you for sharing this message so beautifully.
You are welcome, Corine. It was my pleasure to review a book that is beautifully written and illustrated. I know it will be a blessing to every child who reads it.