“Last night, we took our children to see the Mr. Rogers movie A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood.
Truthfully, none of us really knew much about the movie, but we knew Mr. Rogers.
He spoke to us when we were children as if we were humans, too.
And our hearts have never forgotten.
I’ll be honest, I’m not sure what our kids took away from the story on the screen, but here is what my own adult perspective gained:
We are not meant to be islands. Not you. Not me. The trouble we face is bearable when others believe in our strength to endure. Love sustains us all.
Let yourself feel your feelings. Cry hard. Beat the dough. Run until you’re tired. Do whatever it takes to release the toxicity of anger. It doesn’t serve anyone in the future, especially you.
Healing doesn’t just impact your life – it lifts the world around you, too. What rests in your heart is what you share. And all we can work on is our own life. So, grow the light and let it shine.
While we were eating dinner a little while later, my daughter’s eyes pleaded with a strange urgency.
I knew this was important.
‘Mommy, does everybody die?’
And, suddenly, I remembered the wonder of Mr. Rogers as a little blonde-haired girl all those years ago.
He encouraged us to talk about hard things.
The magic was now working in my daughter, too.
‘We all do, Sweetheart. But we get to live first.’
So, no matter where you are in this season, let these words carry you:
You can do hard things.
You can feel hard things.
And, by the grace of God, you will survive hard things.”
From podcasts to video shows, parenting resources to happy tears – join the Love What Matters community and subscribe on YouTube.
This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Lauren Fortenberry. You can follow her journey on Facebook and Instagram. Submit your own story here, and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories.
Read more stories like this:
Do you know someone who could benefit from reading this? SHARE this story on Facebook with family and friends.