“I believe that appreciation is a holy thing–that when we look for what’s best in a person we happen to be with at the moment, we’re doing what God does all the time. So in loving and appreciating our neighbor, we’re participating in something sacred.”
~ Fred Rogers
Now that is taking it a step further from love your neighbor as yourself. Wonderful thought!
I love that this quote is from Fred Rogers. When I was a young mom, up to my chin in laundry and scattered toys, I would turn on his show and watch it more attentively than my tots. I’d feel so appreciated, so restored. Unlike the thoughts constantly barraging me, he liked me just the way I was. It felt so tangibly true that it made me wonder just what it was about myself that was likeable. Maybe instead of judgment of failure by the world standard of success, there was simply the success of being me. How lovely to learn the holiness that he found in this work, the oneness with divine Love’s dear appreciation of Her beloved children, Mind’s unique ideas. When you think about it, if the Mind is of profound worth, how can the idea be less than limitlessly worthy? if the Mind is infinite Love itself, how can the idea be less than utterly loveable? if the Mind is successful, how in heaven’s name can the idea ever be a failure?
I think that’s Wonderful, Mr. Rogers! And we also need to put Ourselves in that quote…..we need to start looking at what we appreciate in Ourselves, too! Because that is what God always sees in us! Learning to love ourselves is often a lot more difficult than learning to love others, because, you see, some of us have acquired the bad habit of looking to Others to find our self-esteem and we have missed the step of learning to esteem ourselves from within, from within the Love that God always has for US!
I was struck by his choice to use the word “appreciate”. Sometimes, for me, the word “love” can grow stale from abuse, but to appreciate means to increase in value. It helps me see Truth from a slightly different angle: in infinite Mind we, as True ideas, continually appreciate in value and thereby our work – the expression of our appreciative thoughts – is reflected as our world. (note to self: reconsider resume)
Today I had to use something, I hate to use. I had to fire an aide after 13 years. I prayed daily to see her strengths as a perfect spiritual idea, forgiving her for many foolish mistakes but when she involved the Police and my Son with outright lies, I had too take desperate measures and fire her.
ah Mr. Rogers. In another life, I worked with Lady Aberlin, who was on that show for many years. In knowing her I took a new look at Mr Rogers when my kids were young. I always felt so good and loved watching the show. Appreciate is a great word.
Good for You, Tobias, for taking the practical steps you needed to, to take care of yourself!!! Way to Go! Sending Love, Bevi
Tobias: Good work! I spent 21 years in Law Enforcement and have found over the years that more complications of persons trusted giving care became more aggressive in thefts, fraud, and many other crimes in their services. We try with love and trust of those assisting us and later found out that trust was not truthful.
Tobias, good job in taking this right action with mental clarity and wisdom. You deserve an honest and loving caretaker. And in what I think of as the spiritual economy, this formerly employed individual will be blessed as well.