It’s a day off for me…yippeee! Amidst all of the working I am doing (since I feel I truly never get a day off) I am taking some time out to blog and reflect. The paint store can wait, the groceries can wait, the cleaning can wait, the editing can wait, the lessons can wait…ok must stop.
On Friday in my class (for those who don’t know I teach Kindergarten full time all day everyday and LOVE it) we talked about Martin Luther King Jr. I read a story and spoke to the children about the importance of our “day off” that was coming. I wanted them to understand that while we can have fun and play and just enjoy some time to do whatever we want, that there is meaning behind this day. None of them knew (or remembered) who Martin Luther King Jr. was so I started with a blank canvas in terms of telling his story. As we spoke about the life of Dr. King, the students had many insightful and pointed questions. They could not imagine that at one time others were unable to have the same chances and opportunities because of the color of their skin. The students had a sense of pride as they learned that Dr. King stood up for others and wanted everyone to be treated in a fair and just way. They grasped in their own 5 and 6 year old way (and believe me that is pretty deep) the importance of one voice that cried out for peace, equality, and honoring each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. We talked about Martin’s childhood and how he used what he had learned as a child to help better the world around him. We of course touched on Dr. King’s I Have a Dream speech and the March on Washington and how people stood together for justice. We learned that his speech changed history and allowed men and women everywhere to know that there indeed is hope, opportunity and life to be lived to the fullest and that each and EVERY person is entitled to the dream of a better tomorrow.
What is your dream for a better tomorrow? We ALL have dreams. Some of us work on making our dreams reality, some of us hang back doing nothing to further our course convinced they will never happen, and some of us are stuck somewhere in the middle. Many of us have dreams that for some reason or other we have held back from. Perhaps someone is saying “you can never do that” or “you’re not good enough.” Perhaps it is we ourselves who hold us back from the dreams that grow deep within. Held back by fear, doubt, or the voice inside that will not be silenced. From the smallest of hopes to the largest desires our dreams are within our grasp if we but reach out and take hold. Taking hold might be the hardest step. It is easy to have a dream but to make it come true…well that’s where it gets more challenging. That is something I am working on in 2012—taking ACTION and hold of my DREAMS. I call my dreams GOALS.
So on this day we remember Martin Luther King Jr. for his inspiration, his life and his legacy. Many of us will never know what it feels like to be treated in ways of those who came before but if we reach out to our fellow man and show him dignity and respect then we can help Dr. King’s message live on. We are ALL God’s children and we are ALL worthy. I would like to end with one of my favorite quotes from Dr. King: “Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” What powerful words. I whole heartedly embrace them. Have FAITH that anything you can imagine can become reality…DREAM BIG!
The photo above is one I took of sweet lil’ Miss Nora yesterday. I wonder what she is dreaming about…I know Nora is going to dream BIG!
~ xo mel ~
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