A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Mr. Rogers grace exists

in miniature cities of kindness,

–

the tranquil tones of forgiveness,

level to the eye of a single frighten child.

–

For him, and in that moment,

that child is the  most precious

thing in the world.

–

He blesses them with positive ways

of dealing with their feelings;

–

the benediction of accepting them

for exactly who they are;

–

even when everything doesn’t

go exactly the way they hoped,

–

shows them how to smooth the

dissonance into a beautiful inner music;

–

store up the blessings

of an ordinary day;

–

love the ratty, special toy,

even as it grows old;

–

to know with absolute firmness,

as parents, that anything

–

mentionable is manageable

and to be human-

–

and that’s ok.