I used to watch Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood growing up – apparently. Honestly only bits and pieces of it come to mind, though. I remember the transition to the puppet world, the famous red sweater, a few of the songs, some Mr. Rogers’ quotes, some of the characters.
Recently, though, my hubby and I watched a documentary about Mr. Rogers. It’s Mr. Rogers and Me – I have yet to see A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. (Did you hear that Tom Hanks is related to Mr. Rogers?? It makes so much sense, since he sounds like the nicest guy in real life.)
And it hits home, probably more now as an adult than I did when I was a kid.
While his show was aimed at children, the underlying message is powerful. World-changing. And even shows us a Godly perspective, if we choose to see it that way.
It pulls at me, because it’s a message we all need to hear, in these days of division and dark deeds and disappointment.
It’s a message of kindness and hope, of worthiness and value, of purpose and perspective.
Can you imagine how the world would be different if everyone felt purposeful, safe, valuable, worthy? If we made it one of our goals to make sure everyone feels this way?
It’s one of my missions here in this space to do just that, to pass that message onward. In recent years, it has felt like more and more of my calling to encourage women in particular to find their worth in the One who made them. To see that we are each uniquely and purposefully made, and that God put use here for a reason.
Fred Rogers believed in that message, for everyone – no matter your age, race, gender, or background.
Maybe you’d call me a dork. But Mr. Rogers is one of my heroes.
Here are some Mr. Rogers quotes that every grown-up needs to hear these days.
The greatest thing that we can do is to help somebody know that they’re loved and capable of loving.
There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.
Anything that’s human is mentionable and anything that’s mentionable can be more manageable. When we talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know we are not alone.
I believe that appreciation is a holy thing – that when we look for what’s best in a person we happen to be with at the moment, we’re doing what God does all the time. So in loving and appreciating our neighbor, we’re participating in something sacred.
Don’t ever give up on yourself or your dreams. You’re worthwhile, and always will be, no matter what. Just remember to always be who you are, because that person is very special.
As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has – or ever will have – something inside us that is unique to all time. It’s our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression.
To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.
Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people.
Some days, doing “the best we can” may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn’t perfect on any front – and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else.
The world needs a sense of worth, and it will achieve it only by its people feeling that they are worthwhile.
So how about you?
How do any of Mr. Rogers’ quotes ring true for you?
Photo Credit:
1 – My own
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