What Military Spouses Can Learn From Martin Luther King Jr.

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. day. A day to stop and remember this man, and what he stood for. A Day to stop and think about what his actions did to work towards the change that was so badly needed. A Day to serve and help others, to continue what he stood for.

Martin Luther King knew what freedom meant and that not everyone was being treated equally. He changed history for the better and he will always be remembered. We can learn so much from his words, to help our country, and ourselves.

By Herman Hiller / New York World-Telegram & Sun [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

As we think of Martin Luther King Jr. today, I thought it would be interesting to look at some of his quotes and see how we, as military spouses can apply them to our own lives. How we can be better people, based on things he has said.

“Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” 

When we start a new deployment or PCS to a new location, we have to have faith that we can get through it. We have to have faith that we will make things work for ourselves. Even if we can’t see how we will actually do so.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

It’s so important for us as military spouses to be aware of our racial biases and work through them. To stop and listen to others that may have walked a different road. And to work towards King’s dream, in our own everyday lives.

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” 

Sometimes we are crawling through this life and other days we are flying. The point is, keep moving forward, no matter how fast or slow you are going. One day at a time.

By New York World-Telegram and the Sun staff photographer: Albertin, Walter, photographer. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: Only love can do that.”

Hate can tear communities apart. Love brings them together. Even if you don’t get along with someone, even if they are not your cup of tea, hate is never going to make things better. As a military spouse community, we need to be bringing each other up, not tearing one another down.

“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.” 

Such a great reminder that you don’t have to have x, y, and z to help other people. This can apply to so many things, from volunteering for the FRG to being a supportive spouse while your loved one is away.

By Trikosko, Marion S. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.” 

Being able to forgive will help you go far in the military world. From your neighbors to your coworkers, to the other spouses you meet along the way. Not everyone will act the way we hope they would and being able to forgive will help you have a better experience.

“We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.” 

This is so true for everyone but in the military world, disappointment can happen on a regular basis. The key is making lemonade out of the situation and not losing hope.

“No person has the right to rain on your dreams.”

Whatever your dreams are, whatever you have planned, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. Push through, make it work, and get creative.

As we think about Martin Luther King Jr. today, as we think about what he set forth to do, all that he accomplished, and what he hoped for, we can learn a lot about ourselves. We often say, if we were around during those years, we would have been on the side of justice. But the truth is, we can still be on the side of justice today. We can be kind to those we meet, we can stick up for one another, and through that, our own communities will become a better place.