When You Have A Dream

The year was 1963.  

Fifty years ago today, Dr. Martin Luther King stood and delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.  And while this is a huge iconic moment in American history, for our family it’s straight up reality.

In 1963, a woman by the name of Helen Parker was living in northeastern Indiana, raising a family and leading her church’s little youth group.  She had heard about an event that was going to take place out in Washington D.C., a March for Jobs and Freedom.  

For whatever reason only known to her heart, Helen Parker knew she had to be there.  

And not only did she need to be there, so did the students of her youth group.  There was no internet in 1963, this event was not trending.  But news of it had reached across the country.  She understood it was going to be big.  Historical.  

She understood that the next generation had to get this one right.

So she loaded up her car, teenagers and all, in the late August heat and drove east.  As she arrived in D.C. and descended onto the Mall area, what a sight it must have been.  She described her little entourage as “a few grains of salt in a sea of pepper”.  

Helen Parker was not just some random lady.  She was my husband’s grandmother.

As she stood there that day, she heard Dr. King’s famous speech.  She heard his words and dreamt with him.  She heard Dr. King as he spoke of a day when his children “would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”, a day when “little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers”.  She listened.  She took notes.  She probably sang.

What a day.

What a powerful day.  So much she saw and experienced.  So many words proclaimed, so many prayers surely offered.

As it came to a close, as she loaded up her students and began the long journey back to Indiana, I wonder what conversations took place in that car.  I wonder if they understood the historical depth of the event they had just witnessed.  I wonder if they had any idea the impact those words would have on the life of our country… my guess is that they could not have possibly known.

My husband’s Nana couldn’t have known how that day would be remembered.  She couldn’t have known the full impact of the power of that speech.

She couldn’t have known how her decision to be there on that day would ultimately impact her family for generations to come.

Generations yet to be born.

Because ten years after that iconic day, her only daughter had a son…

and he would grow up to be a man…

who would fall in love with a girl named Julie…

and together they would have a family…

and their little black boys would hold hands with little white boys and white girls… as sisters and brothers…

How could she have known?

What a legacy.

Today I stand humbled at the prayers of Helen Parker, and the dreams she had for her country, for her family.

I am brought to tears when I look at my children and see the realization of those answered prayers.

I am challenged by her unabashed bravery in the face of racism and hatred, to stand on behalf of those who are painfully oppressed.

And I am compelled to passionately continue her amazing legacy of prayer for our family, and the generations yet to be born, that they would remember the stories of those who have gone before them, and set their hope and their future on God alone.

O my people, listen to my instructions.
    Open your ears to what I am saying,
²     for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
³     stories we have heard and known,
    stories our ancestors handed down to us.
⁴ We will not hide these truths from our children;
    we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
    about his power and his mighty wonders.
⁵ For he issued his laws to Jacob;
    he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
    to teach them to their children,
⁶ so the next generation might know them—
    even the children not yet born—
    and they in turn will teach their own children.
⁷ So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
    not forgetting his glorious miracles
    and obeying his commands.

Psalm 78