The Power of Influence

Yesterday people from every race celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day as Americans have done since the bill establishing the holiday was signed into law in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan.  The day celebrates the life of a man who forever changed our nation for the good.  

Reflecting on King's influence, I thought about his influencers, that is, those who influenced him.  As the "Jr." indicates, he bore the name of another - specifically, the name of his father.  King Jr. was the child of Alberta King and Martin Luther King, Sr.  

While reading Jr's "An Autobiography of Religious Development" (1950), I found the following words of great interest . . .

"It is quite easy for me to think of a God of love mainly because I grew up in a family where love was central and where lovely relationships were ever present."

As well as . . .

". . . the influence of my father also had a great deal to do with my going in the ministry.  This is not to say that he ever spoke to me in terms of being a minister, but that my admiration for him was the great moving factor.  He set forth a noble example that I didn't mine [sic] following."

MLK Jr. recognized the value of his formative years as those that were filled with love, support, and a noble example. 

Just as it is quite difficult to imagine our nation today without the influence the son shared with us, one struggles to imagine MLK Jr. rising to those nation-changing mounts (speeches, marches, sermons, etc.) without the influence of Sr. and Alberta on him as a boy, teenager, and young man. 

The King story reminds us to pay attention to our influence on the next generation - our own children and the sons and daughters of others.  Through love, support, and noble example, we can shape tomorrow. 

Thank you, MLK Jr., for your conviction and courage.
Thank you, MLK Sr. and Alberta, for your influence.

#ordinarylives