Learning to love

“You've made this day a special day, by just your being you. There's no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are.”

― Fred Rogers

My interest in the words and life of Mister Rogers (Fred, that is) began at the height of the COVID pandemic.  It was summer 2020, and each morning I would escape to the back corner of my childhood bedroom to go spend time with the Lord.  I was no longer the 14 year old who once daydreamed of life beyond these colorful walls, I was a budding adult that had spread her wings, graduated college and moved to the big city by herself. And to top it all off, I had just days ago experienced a moment that I had only dreamed of for years when I landed a lead role in a hit Broadway show.

Yet here I was.  Here we ALL were, trying to figure out what exactly was happening around us in spring of 2020.  As I sit in the back corner of my childhood bedroom, I would open the Bible to read scriptures and spend time journaling prayers to Jesus. I had so much extra space and time now, and the gift in the midst of the chaos and grief was time to allow the voice of my loving Father to speak to my confused and sad heart.

And in the days to follow, with a tender, needy and achy heart, Jesus walked with me into the unknown.  Mister Rogers entered the scene through my Spotify shuffle one day as I listened to worshipful lullabies while reading and journaling. JJ Heller’s cover of Mister Rogers well known tune “It’s You I Like” (written by Fred Rogers) came on and the words of this song broke open my heart.  The simplicity of the lyrics and the childlike language brought me to tears.  It truly felt as if Jesus was sitting with me singing these words directly to me.

“It's you, I like,

It's not the things you wear,

It's not the way you do your hair

But it's you I like

The way you are right now,

The way down deep inside you

Not the things that hide you,

Not your toys

They're just beside you.

But it's you I like

Every part of you.

Your skin, your eyes, your feelings

Whether old or new.

I hope that you'll remember

Even when you're feeling blue

That it's you I like,

It's you yourself

It's you.

It's you I like.

As most of us know, Mister Rogers was gifted in teaching children and passionate about their development. I didn’t grow up as a kid watching Mister Rogers neighborhood, and, to be honest, my knowledge of Fred Rogers was minimal. But, in listening to this song, God used his simple words to speak to the child in me. He awakened a tenderness and presence that softened me to receive what I so deeply lacked.

As I reflect back on it now, I see how the Father was revealing his love to me as I sat with him day after day.  In the seeking came the knowing that the greatest gift in all of life is to be a dearly loved child of God.  Before I had done anything worthwhile, and while I was actively rebelling against him, Jesus loved me. Not for what I could do, how pretty I looked, what stage I performed on, or even how much I read my Bible. Jesus loved me because I’m his kid.  He loved me because He is absolutely delighted in me as his daughter, made in his image.  And He thinks I’m very special, by just being me.

I start this blog not with the intention of being a Mister Rogers fan page. Fred Rogers’ life has some words of wisdom and stories that I am continuously inspired by, so you can definitely expect me to weave them in here on occasion. And I do hope that God speaks to the child in you, like he did me.

I write here because I want to create a conversation around speaking to the child in each other, and growing together in learning to love our neighbors. I want to share with you stories from my life and journey learning to be a neighbor here in New York, in hopes that God encourages you in your own neighborhood.

I want to become more of a person of love every day. Want to join me?