A Heart for Service- MLK Day

Just yesterday, our nation took a moment to pause and reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's legacy for this country. Schools were closed, many places of business were also closed. As a family my husband and I have decided, as many of you may have, to use this day to serve our community and educate our children about the legacy of this iconic civil rights leader.

We were fortunate this year to participate in a local project to clean up a street in our city. The project ended up blessing us in many ways. As the kids passed back through the street, they could see tangible evidence of their work. The street was cleaner. A seven year old and three year old are concrete thinkers, they need to see the change. So they were blessed with a sense of satisfaction of a job well done. In addition, as we walked along the street with a group of people of various ages from as young as 3 (our daughter) and well into 70-- we sang. The group leaders taught the kids chants and songs from the era. They also shared with the children living civil rights oral history. As those who walked and lived during the worst of it. They transmitted the hope, the community spirit, the dedication of a generation to making our world better not just for themselves but for future generations. That was the intangible blessing of yesterday for our family.

In closing, many feel scared or uncertain about what is to come for our country in the next few years. However, being in the company of these elders brought to mind this quote by Dr. King.

"We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope."

So let us remember to transfer hope to our children in the coming days. They will store it in their back pockets and change the world.

- The Mommy Doc

In my pocket I have hope

Hope for tomorrow

When today is bleak

When the present is uncertain

And I am afraid or feel weak

In my pocket my parents placed hope

Because they knew the road would be tough

They had witnessed struggles

But

Hoped

That what they had seen was enough

What they had endured, my grandparents too

Would inspire me and

my generation

To build bridges of understanding

Through our hope, from their hope

Which I now give to you

Hope

In your pocket there is hope

c. Dr. N Bande Virgil, MD "The Mommy Doc"