Thursday; November 9

Some of us didn’t grow up with Mr. Rogers – for us, our favorite authority figure was Captain Kangaroo.  Bob Keeshan helped raise generations of children with the assistance of Mr. Green Jeans, Mr. Bunny Rabbit and Mr. Moose.  I recently came across a quote by Keeshan who observed, “It is my contention that most people are not mugged every day, that most people in this world do not encounter violence every day. I think we prepare people for violence, and I think it just as important that we prepare people for the definition of being gentle. … for so many years gentle has been equated with weakness but it requires more strength to be gentle. So it's the everyday encounters of life that I think we prepare children for and prepare them to be good to other people and to consider other people.”  As I reflected on this observation I realized that we spend a lot of time working with our children preparing to be live in an adversarial world, but what would happen if we helped them expect and see the good in those around them?  Would they learn to be more trusting?  Would they be more willing to accept peace?  We need to help our children to be safe around “bad” people, but we must be careful that we don’t raise them to believe that all people are “bad” people.
          Do we value peace and gentleness?  How much easier would our lives be if we sought to treat those around us as friends and neighbors as opposed to being adversaries and competitors?  The Bible challenges Christians, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”. (Ephesians 4:31-32) 
          Think About It!

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