Martin was a lovely little boy, but he was always late. His father was a minister, and sometimes Martin was supposed to attend meetings, but Martin was always late. Father would scold him and Martin would stand before his father and weep...because Martin was a tenderhearted child.

Father was always sorry after he scolded the boy, because when Martin was late, it always was for a reason. Martin was tenderhearted, and his lateness meant that he had come across some poor soul who needed comfort. Or perhaps Martin had found an injured bird...that was why he was late.

Father said, "Now look, Martin, I've a meeting of the deacons of the church tonight. Your mother will be gone, and I must baby sit you as well as be with the deacons. So you must be at the church by 7:30 promptly." Martin was late. Father started the meeting with the deacons, and Martin finally arrived. "I met these people who have been put out of their homes," Martin explained. He began to describe to the deacons the plight of some poor families that had been evicted. The deacons' hearts were moved by the little boys words. "We must do something to help these families," the deacons agreed. So they organized the congregation to help the families...all because of Martin.

Martin grew up to be Martin Luther King Jr. In 1959 he was invited to give a lecture at Princeton University. Just before the appointment, he was in New York City giving a talk. Somebody stabbed him and he had to take time to recover. So he was late for his Princeton lecture. In fact, it was 1960 before he arrived on campus.

Students surrounded him. "Where's your bodyguard?" they cried. "We read about your being stabbed in New York. Where's your bodyguard?" Martin answered, "If I can't trust in the Lord, who can I trust in? God is watching over my work and if my work is finished, then I can lay down my life safely. If my work is not finished, no one can touch me."

He stood in the chapel at Princeton and told the students, "The day is coming when white people and black people must look in one another's eyes with the love of God. The love of God, because God has love for us all."