“Mr. Rogers”

Recently, I had a chance to watch the 2019 film “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” starring Tom Hanks, who played Mr. Fred Rogers. Of course, I know that I am late for the party. Still, I enjoyed the movie so much, and I thought it was worth mentioning to all the people who grew up watching “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” which first aired on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in 1968—before I was born—and continued until 2001. In 31 seasons, the show significantly impacted little boys and girls throughout the world, including me.

While the movie primarily focuses on one writer’s experience with Mr. Rogers while interviewing him for an article, it also addresses Mr. Rogers’ influence on thousands of children during his television career, or better, his television ministry. I was surprised to learn that he was a Methodist minister, and he prayed for people by name every night. I was inspired by his willingness to use his platform to glorify God. Mr. Rogers would often express his belief that we are all called to serve.

Becoming lifelong friends through television, Mr. Rogers taught me how to deal with the little battles I faced as a child, such as sharing and making new friends; the show was one of the best in educational programming along with “Sesame Street.” I loved the field trips that took me outside of my neighborhood boundaries and allowed me to see a diverse group of people accomplishing things I didn’t know existed. I suppose Mr. Rogers, in addition to the rod that my mother did not “spare,” assisted me with growing up as a decent human.

If you grew up watching the show, share how the show made a difference in your childhood. What was your favorite episode or character? Believe it or not, every experience, big or small, shapes our lives.