This blog post was originally posted January 2010, but it’s timely today and always!
We all know one of the greatest things our children do is to teach and re-teach us the lessons we learned long ago. This morning around the breakfast table I asked the girls what have you learned about Martin Luther King Jr? Their responses were inspiring and spot on.
From my 5-year-old. “He wanted to bring peace and respect to the world. He dreamed that black little kids and white little kids would hold hands and play together….. But people didn’t like his ideas because they didn’t want the world to change…but they hadn’t even tried it!”
WOW! I hear you! How many people fear change and resist new ways of doing things. It’s ironic because kids are learning how to do new things every day!
From my 7-year-old: “Imagine how it would feel if you couldn’t sit where you want, eat where you want and you couldn’t play with all of your friends because of their skin color!” I cannot imagine. “People tried to stop MLK Jr. in violent ways, but he stayed peaceful.” If only everyone could behave this way.
Wise words from the younger generation.
I am so grateful our children are growing up in a world where they don’t choose their friends based on skin color. Where they have many examples of strong men and women who stand up for what they believe in. The dream for peace and respect in the world however, remains a lifelong quest for generations to come.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” said Martin Luther King Jr. Thank you, MLK Jr., for your continued inspiration.
