In life are some familiar sayings, one of which is: "You have to choose your battles. The world doesn’t stop turning for every loss."
There is a life lesson here, that life itself is for the living.
My Uncle, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. loved this scripture, as found in Psalm 30:15, "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."
As many of you know, I am attentive to the necessity of our civic duties, which mandate that we do not act as mere spectators, but indeed as participants!
Having said this, I almost missed Election Day in Georgia last week.
Why?
I have been preoccupied with the death of my mother, Dr. Naomi King on March 7, 2024.
When the phone rang, reminding me to vote, I remember saying something like "Oh yeah. That’s important."
So, I drove to the polls, while making mental notes for planning mother’s final rites.
In her lifetime, mother was affectionately known as the "Butterfly Queen."
I am her "Angel Daughter."
Butterflies are a lifelong symbol of her vibrant, grace-filled, hope-filled, love-filled spirit.
My mother found peace and strength in the delicate wings of these creatures, just as we who know and love her found peace and strength resting beneath the wings of her lessons and love.
Let us, at this time, also reflect on the nurturing and love our mothers give to us, in life and in spirit. Let us never forget.
Over the years, I had the privilege of supporting my mother as she traveled globally.
As an influencer, she advocated for Jesus Christ as well as civil and human rights.
She did so with the same passion and conviction as my father A.D. King and Uncle the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shared.
Most recently at the end of last year, I traveled to Amsterdam on her behalf.
There, I was blessed to share her wisdom and vision with global leaders.
Such wisdom can only be gained through listening and responding to the world with the love of the Lord.
Yes, for me, while my mother has flown, she is most certainly not forgotten.
I pause to mention mother’s passing only to remind us all to often pause and remember what matters most in life.
Yes, elections are important, issues matter, bills have to be paid.
Yes, sometimes life is all too real. Death is only a comma, and never the last word.
Let us pray for peace, life, and those enduring legacies of greatness.
My dream for America is that we always cherish life, while embracing our neighbors and loved ones.
May God Bless each and everyone.
May God Bless these United States of America.
Alveda C. King, Ph.D., is chair of the America First Policy Institute’s Center for the American Dream. She is the daughter of the late slain civil rights activist Rev. A. D. King and the niece of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She is founder of Speak for Life, and Alveda King Ministries. Dr. King is also an acclaimed author, television host, and contributor. She is author of "How Can the Dream Survive?" She served in the Georgia State House, and as a presidential appointee. She is a recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Read More — Here.