Last night our family had a little celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and all he did for Americans of color, and consequently for all Americans. Because our children are so young, we decided to read them a children's book about King's life entitled "Martin's Big Words" by Doreen Rappaport and Bryan Collier. It is beautifully illustrated and so perfect for small children mixing the story of his life with many of his own words.
As soon as I opened my mouth to start our lesson, I started crying, and I cried throughout; Kent had to read the book to the children because I was too emotional. How can I put into words how much the Civil Rights Movement has affected me personally and our family? How can I not shed tears thinking of my children being treated as unworthy and less-than? How do I explain to my little ones that the pure love they have for each other is so uncommon and unknown in much of the world? Maija said it best, "Mommy, thinking of this makes my heart sad. I don't think skin matters except to hold in the insides of our bodies." Couldn't have put it better myself.
Even Kent shed a few tears when he read the following while reading Martin Luther King's own words:
"I have a dream that one day ... little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers."
At least that part of his dream has been fulfilled in a very real way right here in the walls of our home. If only we could all see each other's insides (metaphorically speaking) and be able to love one another truly as brothers and sisters. If only we could see men's hearts as our savior, Jesus Christ, does and truly judge not "by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
5 comments:
Awww, Kim! That almost makes ME cry! How much I long for the complete integration of colors until nobody even NOTICES or CARES whether a person is any combination of pink and brown, (as we all are).
But having that attitude myself hasn't yet made many dents in either my pink friends nor my brown friends. They still seem to get mad if I don't know and acknowledge what shade of pinky-brown they are. I want to shout, "Who Cares! It doesn't matter!" But I might get slapped if I did.
I love the light of love in your home! But in time.... In time.... Nobody will be pink or brown in any shade or combination. We will ALL be beings of light, according to our own truth, purity, intelligence and love.
Lorie, how beautiful! Thank you for sharing those thoughts. I feel as you do that I long for the day when we will see with spiritual eyes and the light within us will be the first and most important thing others "see" about us.
Miss you!
Beautifully said Kim, so sweet. What a touching experience! Wish I could have been there to feel such a sweet spirit, a small glimpse I got reading this post.
Well, you made me cry :) Thanks for sharing. Your family is beautiful!
Thinking of that last part, and how literal it is for your family, has me crying too! I always cry at that speech anyway. Whenever we talked about it in my class at WAterford, I always bawled. But for you, I'm sure it is so much more real. Good for you for teaching your kids about it! (And I LOVE the way Maija put it...why can't we all see it so clearly??)
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