Dr. Martin Luther King Jr is a human being that is synonymous with the words bravery and respect. 

When I think about him and what he endured as a direct result of his belief in what humankind SHOULD be, I'm eternally in awe. I wanted to share an excerpt from his famous speech today because I believe his words will forever be relevant. We celebrate today a man that embodied bravery during a time that needed a champion. He was. He will forever be. May we always remember his words and continue to strive toward equality for all. 

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

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.

I have a dream today!

We all have to do our part to teach the next generation about this important dream. Racism in our country is a horrific disease and when we see it, we should call out it's ignorance and fault. It is my prayer that my children will be a part of a generation that will stand up and stand tall for what is right. Each one of us can play a part in this and have a responsibility to do so. 

If your children are not in school today, take the time to share with them about why they have been given the day off and why we honor this day. It can be difficult for our children today to understand what history was truly like, but there are many great resources online that can help out with that. Here is a link to a website that has listed out some activities you might be interested in for your elementary aged children. As an adult, though we may be spending time at home, here is a list of some great ways to give back in the community: Service Ideas. 

Blessings,