When someone who, in our eyes, was a person of excellence passes we mourn and we remember. But for some of us, simply remembering is not enough. Their memory and their legacy drive us to feel the need to do more. So, we find a way to uphold their legacy and honor their memory. If they have done a great work, we find a way to carry that on and build upon it while seeking to live a life that reflects the lessons they have taught us.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was that kind of person. Whether you were alive to witness him minister to the community through his acts of service or listen to him stand before the nation in 1963 as he declared that he had a dream, or read about him in your school history books, his mission and his legacy have most likely left an imprint in your heart.
While we may not all be the great leader that Dr. King was and reach the masses the way he did, this weekend we have an opportunity to still be great leaders in our own right. As parents we have the ability to be examples to our children and as human beings we have the opportunity to lead and inspire our families, our friends, and our communities. How? By joining countless men and women across the United States we can participate in the National Day of Service, tomorrow January 19, 2013.
Not only will we have an opportunity to pour into our communities, but we will essentially be honoring the man who helped pave the way so that we could one day live in a world where a black President stopped being dream and became a reality. Today we live in a world where so many of us are afforded opportunities that our ancestors only dreamed of.
Service is essential. It brings people together and it fosters a sense of community. Service can be life changing often blessing the person who serves even more than the person they are helping. By participating in the National Day of Service I believe that you have the ability to set the tone for an amazing year, a year in which we shift our focus from living a life all about getting and strive to live a life in which giving is also at the forefront.
There are countless things you can do. Your socioencomic status, age, or the amount of time you have available tomorrow does not have to limit your ability to serve. Whether it is participating in a “virtual food drive,” planting trees, or cleaning up your child’s school campus we all have the ability to do something.
I encourage you to challenge yourself to be the agents of change in your families and your communities. I encourage you to be leaders realizing that you have a chance to further instill the spirit of service in your loved ones. Let us all join The First Family in tomorrow’s National Day of Service.
To find a National Day of Service event near you visit 2013pic.org.
BMWK, will you join us in participating in the National Day of Service tomorrow?
Photo and Video Credit: YouTube