“Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity to grow into the healthiest of people.” ~ Fred Rogers
There is probably no one in our time who has spread the message of love, acceptance, and understanding better than Mr. Rogers. His neighborhood was vibrant and interactive, his messages were poignant and timely, and his warmth was evident. You knew that he cared about every person he met and that he desired all people to get along.
Yet, for all the good that Mr. Rogers accomplished in his career, he is but a mere shadow of the love of God shown to us in His Son, Jesus. Mr. Rogers talked about knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are. Jesus proved to us that He loves us exactly as we are. Jesus told us that we had value in the eyes of God and that we should learn to value and love one another as God loves us.
Jesus’ love is total. He loves us completely. He loves us unconditionally. His love for us is so immense and intense that He went to the cross in order to die for us so that He could destroy death and restore eternal life to each and every one of us. We did not earn it. It was not ours by right. It was simply because God loves us so much that He did not want to lose any of us.
We are celebrating the Octave of Easter this week. Each day, we recall that great moment when Jesus Christ shattered the shackles of sin and death. We proclaim that He is alive and we nurse the hope that He has given to us that we will share in His resurrection at the end of our days.
That Easter joy and hope can carry us through the darkest times of our lives. Perhaps the darkest times we ever experience are the times that we turn against ourselves. There are times that we do not love ourselves as we ought. Let us do our best to work on that this day in the Octave of the greatest moment in our history.
FAITH ACTION: Knowing that God loves you completely and unconditionally, try to love yourself this day.