This past week, my morning devotional included a brief story about Rosa Parks. February 4 was her birthday. When she was 42, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a city bus in Montgomery AL to a white passenger. At the time, the law required African-Americans to do so.

She was arrested for her act of civil disobedience and worked with others in initiating the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The resulting integration of city buses in Montgomery ignited the civil rights movement in the US and inspired nonviolent movements for social changes around the world.

Rosa Parks commented, “People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” Rosa’s sitting down was her rising up to serve – restoring and liberating others and there is still much to be done.

Lord, take us by the hand and raise us up so that how we spend our days and our lives contributes to the work of your kingdom that has come near to us in your son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.