By Cheryl Mattox Berry
World leaders. Politicians. Athletes. Ordinary men and women. For the last few days, people around the world have mourned the passing of Nelson Mandela.
Do you know who Nelson Mandela was and what he did? He was more than the former present of South Africa and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Mandela was a great humanitarian. He showed us how to fight for freedom, stand firm in our beliefs, forgive our oppressors and live with grace and dignity.
Mandela was the last of the great leaders of our time. He was a civil rights activist, a human rights activist and a beloved hero. A lawyer, Mandela rose to prominence by fighting apartheid in South Africa, which led to his imprisonment for 27 years.
After his release, Mandela was elected president of South Africa and served from 1994 to 1999. Where others might have sought revenge, Mandela worked to dismantle apartheid and bring whites and blacks to the table to create a better South Africa.
Mandela didn’t live for the headlines or a 15-second sound bite on the evening news. By all accounts, he was truly concerned about his fellow South African. He never forgot where he came from. How many so-called leaders can we say that about today?
You should know about the life and times of Nelson Mandela. There are movies and books about him. His words have inspired people from all walks of life. Mandela’s life is one worth emulating because he was a true role model.
Here is my favorite quote from Mandela. I hope his uplifting words move you to fight injustice wherever it might exist.
“Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end.” – Nelson Mandela