Martin Luther King Day 2020

I grew up believing Martin Luther King Jr. was a hero. The "I Have a Dream" speech he gave in 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial is a historical speech often quoted. It helped bring light to the Civil Rights Movement.

I'd like to share a few of my favorite quotes from his "I Have a Dream" speech. Parts of his speech still apply to America today.

“I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream.”


“When we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: “Free at last! Free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”


"Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”



And my favorite quote is, “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.”

In most pictures I found of Martin Luther King Jr., he wore a solemn expression. He lived a life full of purpose, and he worked tirelessly for his dream. I didn't give up and at last found this picture of him with a smile. The captions read, "Martin Luther King Jr. waves on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Aug. 28, 1963."

American Heroes

My son, Scott, got me started reading books about American heroes. He suggested I read The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL.
With this book, I was hooked. Eric Greitens' journey moved me. His life is a picture of servanthood and a challenge to the reader to become a better person.

“There were a number of definitions of courage, but now I was seeing it in its simplest form: you do what has to be done day after day, and you never quit.”
― Eric Greitens, The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL

The next book I read was A Warrior's Faith. At points in this story about Ryan Job's life I was impressed, mad, and heartbroken.

I am currently reading, Seal of God by Chad Williams. He takes you into his journey of becoming a Navy SEAL. I'd heard of Hell Week, but there is so much more to their training I'd never dreamed about.

Reading books about our American heroes has given me a deeper appreciation for our service men and women and their families. My ears perk up when I hear stories on the news about our military personnel, and I pray more for them.

I'd like to challenge you to read at least one book this year about an American hero.