It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood
A beautiful day for a neighbor
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
As so many others I enjoyed watching Mr. Rogers walk into
his studio home, change his jacket for a sweater and his shoes for house
slippers as he sang Won’t You Be My Neighbor?. Of course, I watched enough to have the words
of the song memorized and I always sang along without ever thinking much about
the words. I watched because I enjoyed
the imaginative way of teaching and showing things. Mr. Rogers always taught kindness through
stories, using imagination and conversations on screen with a number of
different guests.
It’s a neighborly day in this beautywood
A neighborly day for a beauty
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
With each story and interaction, I most often recognized the
lesson being taught. Sometimes it was a
simple educational opportunity – knowledge about how the world works. Invariably, however, the ultimate lessons
were about kindness to one another regardless of our differences.
I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you
I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you
Because of his kindness, Mr. Rogers created a safe place for
millions of children. He taught lessons
that many might not be learning otherwise.
He was a role model for children and adults alike. He invited us to be his neighbor, to be his
friend. He let us know that he cared.
So let’s make the most of this beautiful day
Since we’re together, we might as well say
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?
Now, as an adult, looking back I’ve learned some new lessons
about Fred Rogers. As a child, he
experienced first-hand unkindness from other children. This helped him to be friend to himself and
develop his imagination. Most know he
was an ordained Presbyterian minister, something he earned after starting his
career in television. I’ve listened to
and read some of the things he’s said and written on and off of his famous
show.
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.
____
Because deep down we know that what matters in this life
is much more than winning for ourselves.
What really matters is helping others win too, even if it means slowing down
and changing our course now and then.
____
I hope you’re proud of yourself for the times you’ve said
“yes,” when all it meant was extra work for you and was seemingly helpful only
to someone else.
____
I believe that appreciation is a holy thing, that when we
look for what’s best in the person we happen to be with at the moment, we’re
doing what God does. So, in loving and
appreciating our neighbors, we’re participating in something truly sacred.
There’s that word again neighbors. Why does he focus on asking us to be his neighbor? Because as he’s lived the Greatest
Commandment, he is also living the second greatest commandment.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all they soul, and with all they mind.
“This is the first and great commandment.
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love they
neighbor as thyself.” – Matthew 22:37-39
As Fred Rogers invited us, pleaded with us to be his
neighbor, he was obeying the second great commandment. He was following the example of Jesus Christ.
He lived this commandment openly and fully.
The lesson for me is this. We are
all neighbors. The second great
commandment instructs and invites us to love everyone as we love
ourselves. It takes a deliberate
effort. It is ministering as the Savior ministered. Like Mr. Rogers, we should be
valiant and magnify our efforts to obey this commandment by expanding our
circle by helping others to recognize they are our neighbors by loving them, by ministering to them.
