Won’t you be my neighbor? 

         Fred Rogers, a role model of kindness, was the celebrity of my childhood. Although I lost my autographed fan photo, I have kept many memories of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, which first aired out of WQED-TV in Pittsburgh. 

        His long-running program offered guidance for children. Rogers wanted to help children “feel accepted.” He addressed their questions, concerns, and fears through his puppet plays, interviews with  songs. Rogers considered himself a musician and held a degree in music composition. He wrote the  melodies and lyrics for 200 songs. (I can still sing some of the catchy tunes today.)

          I have a surprise guest blogger today whose inspiration comes from the multi-talented Mr. Rogers.                     What follows is a piece written by my mother that first appeared in the Court Street Methodist newsletter. I have her permission to share it with you. 

        Words from one of Mr. Rogers’ song: “Sometimes people are good and do just what they should, and the very same people who are good sometimes are the very same people who are bad sometimes. It’s funny but it’s true.” “It’s the same for us. There is a scripture verse that expresses our constant struggle between right and wrong.

        When I want to do right, I sometimes do wrong. Of course, none of us are perfect. All have sinned and fallen short. All are in need of foregiveness. So we need to have tolerance for those who may be in need of forgiveness and also  have patience with ourselves as we struggle to do what is right. 

         We are not all good or all bad, but a mixture of both, and will always struggle with good and evil. So I wish you God’s help and blessings in your daily struggles with good and evil, and right and wrong, and love and hate. 

            Let love prevail in your life. 

Footnote: For further reading, check out “I’m Proud of You,” by Tim Madigan. It’s an account of  the author’s friendship with Fred Rogers. This unlikely friendship blossomed after Madigan profiled Rogers for the Star-Telegram.