Taking a Mr. Rogers Break
quotations, videos, and a short essay
offered in appreciation of Fred Rogers (1928-2003)
Presbyterian minister, Educator, Television Host
Every Person is Unique
“If you had one final broadcast,” I asked, “one final opportunity to address your television neighbors, and you could tell them the single most important lesson of your life, what would you say?”
He paused a moment and then said, ever so slowly: Well, I would want [those] who were listening somehow to know that they had unique value, that there isn’t anybody in the whole world exactly like them and that there never has been and there never will be. And that they are loved by the Person who created them, in a unique way. If they could know that and really know it and have that behind their eyes, they could look with those eyes on their neighbor and realize, “My neighbor has unique value too; there’s never been anybody in the whole world like my neighbor, and there never will be.” If they could value that person—if they could love that person—in ways that we know that the Eternal loves us, then I would be very grateful.
-- Amy Hollingsworth, The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers
He paused a moment and then said, ever so slowly: Well, I would want [those] who were listening somehow to know that they had unique value, that there isn’t anybody in the whole world exactly like them and that there never has been and there never will be. And that they are loved by the Person who created them, in a unique way. If they could know that and really know it and have that behind their eyes, they could look with those eyes on their neighbor and realize, “My neighbor has unique value too; there’s never been anybody in the whole world like my neighbor, and there never will be.” If they could value that person—if they could love that person—in ways that we know that the Eternal loves us, then I would be very grateful.
-- Amy Hollingsworth, The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers
It's All About Kindness
Videos
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God is Love.
1 John: 4:8
a meditation written by Jay McDaniel in the spirit of Mr. Rogers,
building upon clips from Mr. Rogers Remixed (see video above), to be
read to children by parents and grandparents, introducing process theology.
building upon clips from Mr. Rogers Remixed (see video above), to be
read to children by parents and grandparents, introducing process theology.
Do you ever imagine things? Inside you there is a lure to imagine things. It helps things grow. People have different names for this spirit. Sometimes the Bible calls it Love. This Love is inside you and more than you. Even the stars in the sky come from Love.
Did you ever grow anything in the garden of your mind? You share in Love by helping things grow inside your mind and also in the world. Your mind is a garden, too. Your ideas are the flowers.
It's good to be curious about many things. You water your garden with curiosity. Whenever your are curious about many things; whenever you find yourself filled with wonder and amazement; you are in the spirit of Love.
Imagine every person you see is somewhat different from every other person in the world. Every person you see is like a star in the sky or like a flower in your garden. They have their own feelings. There is beauty in the differences. It's great for you to be different, too. Love loves differences.
Did you feel like going like that? Like snapping your fingers? Or dancing? Or playing a flute? Your body is Love's body. Love takes delight when you use your hands to build things that help others. In these moments your hands are Love's hands.
Let's get the fish some food. Fish have souls, too. Just like you. Dogs and eagles do, too. Also earthworms. Love is gentle and kind. Love is never jealous.
There are so many things to learn about in this world. Your mind can grow wider with each experience. And your heart can grow wide, too. There's a wideness in Love's beauty that is wider than the sea. The stars and galaxies swim in love's beauty, too.
So many people who can help us learn. Not everyone you meet is a friend. You should not take candy from strangers. But you can learn something from almost everybody. And from the mountains and rivers, too. Imagine that you are wildflower in a valley of wildflowers. The other wildflowers have something to teach you. You never learn alone.
All you have to do is think, and they'll grow. There may come a time in your life when you feel lonely or alone. That's natural. But even then you'll have a companion. You are never abandoned by Love. Love is steadfast and faithful. Love will speak to you in many languages: music, rhythm, friendship, colors, feelings. Sometimes even loneliness can be a language of Love. Imagination is one of Love's deepest and wondrous of languages. It is a kind of prayer.
Did you ever grow anything in the garden of your mind? You share in Love by helping things grow inside your mind and also in the world. Your mind is a garden, too. Your ideas are the flowers.
It's good to be curious about many things. You water your garden with curiosity. Whenever your are curious about many things; whenever you find yourself filled with wonder and amazement; you are in the spirit of Love.
Imagine every person you see is somewhat different from every other person in the world. Every person you see is like a star in the sky or like a flower in your garden. They have their own feelings. There is beauty in the differences. It's great for you to be different, too. Love loves differences.
Did you feel like going like that? Like snapping your fingers? Or dancing? Or playing a flute? Your body is Love's body. Love takes delight when you use your hands to build things that help others. In these moments your hands are Love's hands.
Let's get the fish some food. Fish have souls, too. Just like you. Dogs and eagles do, too. Also earthworms. Love is gentle and kind. Love is never jealous.
There are so many things to learn about in this world. Your mind can grow wider with each experience. And your heart can grow wide, too. There's a wideness in Love's beauty that is wider than the sea. The stars and galaxies swim in love's beauty, too.
So many people who can help us learn. Not everyone you meet is a friend. You should not take candy from strangers. But you can learn something from almost everybody. And from the mountains and rivers, too. Imagine that you are wildflower in a valley of wildflowers. The other wildflowers have something to teach you. You never learn alone.
All you have to do is think, and they'll grow. There may come a time in your life when you feel lonely or alone. That's natural. But even then you'll have a companion. You are never abandoned by Love. Love is steadfast and faithful. Love will speak to you in many languages: music, rhythm, friendship, colors, feelings. Sometimes even loneliness can be a language of Love. Imagination is one of Love's deepest and wondrous of languages. It is a kind of prayer.