Recently, we watched the movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers.
It was such a good movie and truly the bright spot of our day. If you haven’t seen it yet, I hope you will soon. As a child, I never watched Mr. Rogers, so it was a real treat to be introduced to someone so beloved by so many. His 32 years in television made such an impact on children’s lives, and his testimony before the Congress in 1969 literally saved public television.
The movie didn’t focus so much on those life-changing events, but instead on his relationship with Lloyd Vogul, a hard-hearted journalist assigned to do a story on Mr. Rogers. According to his widow, Joanne, and the real journalist, Tom Junod, who wrote the Esquire article, “Can you say…Hero?” the movie’s depiction of Fred Rogers was about as true as it could be. Joanne Rogers’s one request of the movie makers was that they don’t make him out to be a ‘saint,’ and they didn’t.
One scene had a profound impact on me. It was when Joanne told Lloyd that Fred prayed for people by name. Later in the film, we see Tom Hanks kneeling by his bed, referring to a legal pad beside him that had a very long list of names.
He prayed for people by name—what a powerful act of sincerity and simplicity.
For decades, I’ve been a part of a small prayer group, no more than six people, who have met regularly to pray for the people and situations on our Prayer List. The Rose family has been held up many times. We’ve asked for healing for staff and patients, prayers for the family of someone who died, sent requests for the right radiologists to join us, and for our volunteers to have successful fundraisers, plus whatever else has been put upon our hearts.
Most of you know about this group and have asked that someone be put on the Prayer List. Many times, you send a note that says, please put my sister or my dad on your list. Sometimes you include their names; rarely do you share the reason why. It doesn’t matter; we figure God knows why.
Every now and then, I receive a note that says ‘put me on the list.’
We are in that time of year of deepest Holiness and find ourselves emerged in equally profound concern. I remind myself that it is still a beautiful day in the neighborhood and in the world.
You and the entire Rose Family are being held up by my prayer group and many others. I hope you will include all of us on your own prayer list.
And, if for whatever reason, you should need a bit extra, send me a note, and we will pray for you by name.
The reason isn’t important; your asking is enough.
Take a look at a special video message from me here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M45cZVyX8w0
Stay Well, Stay Safe.
Dorothy