National Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
National Winnie the Pooh Day
What do these three, seemingly unrelated, “national days” have in common? Words!
We all use words to express what’s in our hearts.
There’s a lesser known commonality found among the three people represented by these national days. Each of their contributions were the result of enduring intense hardship.
Peter Mark Roget began collecting words & making lists as a young boy. Throughout his life they served as therapeutic solace for the mental illnesses that plagued his family life. It wasn’t until Roget was in his 70’s & retired from his medical career, however, that his great work, Roget’s Thesaurus, was published.
Most Americans are familiar with the life & work of Marin Luther King, Jr., born Michael King, Jr. Once again we see a man whose incredible contributions come to us on the heels of great suffering. From the time he was a young man it is noted that his voice & gift for persuasive speech were evident. His favorite hymn to sing was I Want To Be More & More Like Jesus, & he often used his words to stymie the physical altercations he encountered in his neighborhood.
Given our current state, this seems an appropriate MLK quote… I still believe that standing up for the truth of God is the greatest thing in the world. This is the end of life. The end of life is not to be happy. The end of life is not to achieve pleasure and avoid pain. The end of life is to do the will of God, come what may. (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Alan Alexander Milne miraculously survived WW1, but suffered severely with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This led to him relocating his family to a calm, countryside setting. It was there that he would take long, therapeutic walks through the surrounding woodland (Hundred Acre Wood) with his son, Christopher Robin. The stories that bonded father & son revolved around Robin’s favorite toys (Pooh, Piglet, Eyeore, Kanga, Roo, & Tigger) & became the inspiration for the words penned in one of the most beloved children’s series of all time.
...even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude. (Winnie the Pooh)
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