James 1:27 says religion is about loving those that God loves. God's heart break for those in distress. Start with one: Meet the need of one person who is struggling in your community. Practice true religion by changing one person's world by showing them love.

The day of service came into existence by former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Watford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis. MLK day is set aside to celebrate how he fought for equal rights for all people regardless of race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Some people use this day to commemorate his legacy.

There is no one way to celebrate this day all you have to do is serve. If you’re asking yourself How can I serve and be apart of the cause? You can start by helping someone in need, you can volunteer at your local homeless shelter or soup kitchen, you can offer a smile or hug to someone who needs uplifting, just to name a few. The national and community website( www.nationalservice.gov) offer some good ideas on what to do for the day of service. The ones that stood out to me are:

1. Help low income families find free tax preparation services, shovel elderly neighbors walkways, clear leaves or help with other yard maintenance,.

2. Assist with job readiness such as: resume writing., interview skills., and dressing for success.

3. Involving kids in service which help children learn to respect others, understand people who are different from themselves, become more patient, and to gain a better understanding of good citizenship.

I know that most government jobs and public schools are closed for the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day but if you are a teacher you can get your students engaged in serving others throughout the school year. These are some activities students can do : they can have a book drive, make cards for nursing home residents, volunteer at local soup kitchens and they can participate in charity walks or runs.

I feel honored because I had the privilege of going to the King Center , New Ebenexer Baptist and Martin Luther King birth home in Atlanta Georgia. The King Center is also the home of Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife final resting place. The center is so profound and I encourage everyone to go.

My final thoughts about the Day of Service is as a Christian my duty is to love everyone, help others and be a light.No one sees your light if you’re not doing anything. As God blesses us we should be a blessing to others. For some time I thought about how am I going to help others in my personal circle and in my community. It starts today, I charge myself and you to look within and find out how you are valuable and your purpose in life. In closing in the words of Coretta Scott King. “ MLK Is A Day On, Not A Day Off".