I just finished reading a blog about Fred Gray, the attorney who defended Rosa Parks and encouraged the young Martin Luth King, Jr. to his active role in desegregation. ( Find more about this amazing man http://www.fredgray.net/welcome.html .)

It got me to thinking about all those people out there that are the mentors or role models or just the friend that gives one their ear or the encouragement to accomplish much. I think of all the people I know that have really accomplished a lot in their lives and every single one of them had so much help.

We remember Rosa Park and Martin Luther King, Jr. and think of them as heroes. I have even seen photos of MLK with Fred Gray and nevr gave the man a second thought. Yet neither of these people could have accomplished anything if Rosa had rotted in jail or MLK had just kept preaching at his little church. The changes brought about by the desegregation movement were achieved as much by Fred Gray as by the others.

Let us give thanks today for all the "helpers" out there...all of the people that are great in their own right, serving God as he calls. Let's give thanks for all who understand that their role will not include the glory that goes with the spokesperson, that their planning will not garner the praise that the ones who carry out the plans, that their leadership or guidance or hard work will likely go unnoticed and unthanked by most. Let's give thanks that these people are willing to do it anyway for the good and for God.

God bless the helpers of the world.