"If you want to be important, wonderful. If you want to be recognized, wonderful. If you want to be great, wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That is the new definition of greatness. Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve."

Powerful words spoken by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This powerful man of God was a living example of being like the Christ, the anointed one. Jesus the Christ was a servant. He was sent to serve God by dieing on the cross for our sins. Did He not act as a servant to mankind when he healed the sick, raised the dead and ministered to the people? He even served His own disciples, those who served Him, by washing their feet.

Martin was a servant of God, he was sent here to die for our civil rights. We all have a purpose here on earth, Martin knew his and accepted it dangers and all. A true martyr for what he knew we deserved. He fought for opportunities not only for "blacks" but for women, women of all nationalities and he also fought for poor people as well. He believed that all people should be able to live the "Dream". He fought for what God promised us in His word - Life more abundantly. That abundant life is now, while we are on earth.

In his speech "I've Been to the Mountaintop" Martin discussed the threats on his life and like the Moses he was, he said "...Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will, and He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight, that we as a people will get to the Promised Land." Did Moses not see the promised land? Didn't he also serve God despite his revelation that he himself would not be able to enjoy the promised land?

Incredible! God continues to show himself, yet we refuse to see, we refuse to acknowledge Him. Martin labored as Moses did for God's glory - "let His will be done."

Martin was a man for the people, he preached love, he lived love, he was self-less yet powerful. We as a people, all people, should strive to be like Martin, like the Christ. A faithful, loving servant to God and His people. In his sermon "I've Been to the Mountaintop", Martin proclaimed ..."The question is not "If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?" The question is "If I do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to them?"...

We should all at this point know who Martin is and what he was about, some of us may even know how many awards he has received and listened to a few of his speeches, but do we know the lesson being taught by his life? Can we truly say that his dream has been realized? I write this article not to retype his biography but to affect change in someone's life, so that they may begin to exude the life of Martin, imitate the life of Christ and share in the love that God has for us.

We are love, we should live love, teach love, share our love and strive to live the "Dream" that Martin fought and died for. Yes equality, yes integration, yes freedom, but what about love? Only through love can we see past racism, only through love can we truly walk hand in hand, side by side - together as the "One Nation Under God" the government used to boast about.

Dr. King was chosen by God to live a life of violence to show us that while we may be effected by our environment, we do not have to be affected to react the same. This man preached non-violence, he lived non-violence yet he died violently. Looking back at Jesus' life, He suffered the same, a violent death for a non-violent life. Dr. King, a great activist but also a man after God's own heart. So what lesson have we learned here? It's not the way he died, but how he lived his life is what's important. His entire family lived as King lived, despite the violence that surrounded them, they did not allow themselves to get caught up. Martin's father was quoted saying "I can hate no man." Can we say the same?

We are constantly surrounded by hate, by violence, by people who refuse to grab hold of Martin's dream, but it is up to us to affect them to react differently from what they know, from what they were taught.

So how will you spend this holiday? Will you use the day to get things done around the house? Will you attend a service and then go home? Or will you show someone you don't know love? Let's commit to affecting the lives of those we meet. Let's be great and be the servant Martin spoke about, serve someone in need. Let's fulfill God's purpose for our lives and share His love. Let's serve others lovingly and witness the change, one person at a time.

"You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love, and you can be that servant." From Martin's lips to your ears - Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

We salute you Martin, for the great man of God you were during your time with us. We recognize your charge and we accept it.

So, where do we go from here? Let us know GB, post your comments and share with us how you plan to help bring Martin's dream to fruition.

All speech excerpts were taken from the King Center website http://www.thekingcenter.com/DrMLKingJr/.

Written by Keisha N. Cole

A Sound The Alarm Prouction in association with PkDiva Films brings you a story of of a girl who thinks she has it all figured it out...being a single mother and cast out on her own with no place to go she quickly gets a reality check that life isn't a party and that she needs to remember who controls it all. Join this women on her life changing journey of lessons in life and motherhood. In the face of god...would you surrender all?