Most people have heard the song by the Beatles, “All You Need is Love,” but is it? One day I started thinking about that question. We have so many people in our community who are hungry, who are homeless, who are sad, who are hurting. Is love enough for them?
Love may not be enough for them in and of itself, but it is the love of others, the love of each one of us that can make a difference. We can lift others’ spirits, offer food, give comfort, share a blanket, be aware, and be of service.
Today, is a great day to remember Martin Luther King, Jr. and his many words of wisdom. Martin said, “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” What would happen if each and every human on this planet would live their lives starting each day with love for all mankind? Wow!
As an educator, I continue to share Martin’s words with my students in hopes that they will share with others. I have hope, that my students will be full of love and compassion and a desire and willingness to serve. One of the quotes in my classroom that aligns with my framework of service learning is Martin’s: “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” A soul generated by love…so maybe, just maybe love is all you need!
Teach to Serve Others 