Today, we honor and remember the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Many of us will go about our normally scheduled routine. Some of us have the day off. All of us will find our mailboxes empty. We can easily go about the day’s activities without stopping, considering, and thanking God for this great man.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is remembered most for his famous “I Have A Dream speech as part of the March on Washington. The public speech took place on August 28, 1963, in which he calls for an end to racism in the United States. The speech was delivered to approximately 250,000 people who came to Washington DC to march for civil rights. It was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement!
One thing I learned about Dr. King is that he almost didn’t give the “I Have a Dream” part of the “I Have A Dream” speech. Singer Mahalia Jackson urged Dr. King to “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” In this part of the speech, which most excited the listeners and now has become famous, King described his dreams of freedom and equality coming out of a land of slavery and hatred.
Let’s pay tribute today to this great man who fought for equality even when all odds were against him. Let’s consider several character traits that embodied MLK:
1. Persistence: Nothing stopped him from achieving what he wanted to achieve. Even from the confines of the Birmingham Jail, he did not stop fighting for what he believed in. Are you and I so passionate about our cause that we won’t let the trials and challenges of our work affect us?
2. Listened to others- Just think, it was Mahalia Jackson that spoke into MLK and encouraged him to change up his speech! Are you and I willing to listen to those around us? Do we believe that others may actually help our cause, if we humbly listen?
1. Persistence: Nothing stopped him from achieving what he wanted to achieve. Even from the confines of the Birmingham Jail, he did not stop fighting for what he believed in. Are you and I so passionate about our cause that we won’t let the trials and challenges of our work affect us?
2. Listened to others- Just think, it was Mahalia Jackson that spoke into MLK and encouraged him to change up his speech! Are you and I willing to listen to those around us? Do we believe that others may actually help our cause, if we humbly listen?
3. Patience- There wasn’t just one speech that put an end to segregation in the US. MLK worked tirelessly, knowing full well that things wouldn’t change overnight. Are you and I willing to take the time, energy and hard work to fulfill our dreams?
4. Bravery- How much courage would it take to stand up before thousands? MLK had a dream and wanted to see it through. Are you and I filled with courage and faith to believe what feels impossible?
As you ponder just a few of the beautiful qualities of Martin Luther King, Jr, would it not be appropriate to consider how God wants to mold and shape us as a leader? Let’s not let a day like today go by, without considering how this man lived and how we live.
As you start this day, read thoughtfully these quotes, all attributed to Martin Luther King, Jr. How do you think God wants to challenge you today?
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
“The time is always right to do what is right.”
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
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