The incredibly profound, I Have a Dream speech was a defining moment for Dr. Martin Luther King. In additional to his remarkable leadership, it is what resonates the most with the world. As I get older and continue to study his lifes’ work, what resonates the most with me is his incredible life of service. Nothing leaves a greater legacy than a life of service to those in need.

As we honor Dr. King today, one of his most important questions: What are you doing for others? should ring in our ear. How are you using your time, talents, money and resources to bless those in need? If you are blessed with time, volunteer at a shelter, or work with an organization to plant new trees. If you are blessed with talent, visit a senior citizen’s facility and cheer them up by performing, teach children with limited resources how to paint or help a small business design a website. If you are blessed with money, give to the Boys and Girls Club, the Rotary Club, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or your favorite charitable organization. If you are blessed with resources, donate food to a pantry, materials to Habitat for Humanity, clothes to Goodwill or a car that you are not using to the Salvation Army. These are diverse examples of the many ways that we can be of service.

Two of my favorite quotes of Dr. King are:

“ Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” and

“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was:  "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?"  But... the good Samaritan reversed the question:  "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?""

Our lives are incredibly busy and there are legitimate reasons to focus on our work and family responsibilities, however, in our own way, we can all follow in the footsteps of Dr. King. As we travel, consider: if we do not slow down to help, what will happen?

Walking in the Footsteps of a King is a poem that I wrote in 2020 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Dr. King taught us that the strength, conviction and the action of one person can change the world.  If we can concretely state what we are doing for others in order to leave this world better than we found it, we are all walking in the footsteps of a king. Never stop fighting for the right to live with honor and dignity, as one human race.

Janet Autherine is the founder of the Growing into Greatness Mentorship Community. www.janetautherine.com.