“My Neighbor and My Friend”
“We love because he first loved us.” *
When Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood first became popular on television in America, I was already out of high school, too old for children’s programs. Until my husband Al and I watched the movie, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and then upon a recommendation from a friend the documentary of his life, I didn’t know much about him personally.
We were both impressed by Fred Rogers’ humility and expression of love for others. Al describes him as “walking the talk.” Not only did he demonstrate love for others, he told them so. Children seemed to recognize the genuine love that emanated from him and were drawn to him, opening up and sharing their deep-down feelings.
Mister Rogers’ concern about the power of the television to shape and even manipulate vulnerable young children motivated him to develop programs that would help kids grow in positive ways. His goals were to help them learn about the world around them, enable them to feel good about themselves, appreciate others and find acceptable ways to express their feelings in a safe environment.
“What do you do with the mad that you feel, when you feel so mad you could bite?” was the topic of one of the songs that he composed. Fear, anger and frustration often lead to unacceptable behaviors like biting — common problems with preschool children. Those same emotions are also common in adults, as we all well know.
In the movie that was taken from a true story, Tom Hanks played the part of Fred Rogers very well. When a journalist for a popular magazine was given the assignment to interview Mister Rogers, a strong bond was formed between the two men. As anger the journalist had harbored toward his father came to the surface, Fred Rogers was able to help him confront it. Rogers believed love or the lack of it was at the root of everything.
Not only did Mister Rogers communicate with preschoolers, he had a profound influence on many adults, including the journalist whose life was radically changed. Often as he spoke to audiences, he would ask them to take one minute of silence to think about the individual or individuals who had helped them grow into the people they were at that moment.
“Anyone who has ever been able to sustain good work has had at least one person and often many who have believed in him or her. We just don’t get to be competent human beings without a lot of different investments from others… From the time you were very little, you’ve had people who have smiled you into smiling, people who have talked you into talking, sung you into singing, loved you into loving.” (Commencement speech in 2002 misterrogers.org)
When we truly believe love abounds and begin sharing it, our world will be changed. To Mister Rogers, a fundamental principle was each person is a beloved son or daughter of God. Whenever we bring “light, joy, hope, faith, pardon and love” to our neighbor and ourselves, we’re living out our calling to be “Tikkun Olam,” repairers of creation. Tikkun Olam is a Hebrew expression meaning “repair of the world; the establishment of Godly qualities throughout the world.”
Jesus talked about loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and loving our neighbors too. This was the life He lived, a life centered on love. It’s the kind of love that looks a person straight in the eye and says first “I love you,” then asks “How can I help you?” regardless of that person’s real or perceived differences.
Think of God singing this song to each one of us…then think of singing this to others!
“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood
A beautiful day for a neighbor
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?
“…Won’t you be my neighbor?
Won’t you please, won’t you please?
Please, won’t you be my neighbor?
“… Neighbors are people who are close to us
And friends are people who are close to our hearts
I like to think of you as my neighbor and my friend.”
(“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” Fred Rogers)
Christmas is the celebration of Christ’s coming into the world, the celebration of God’s great statement of love for all mankind. May we receive His love and may we radiate it outward to the hurting world in which we live.
*1John 4:19 NIV