Many children in the U.S. gained from his wisdom. And here's one of the gems he left with us all: "Love isn't a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now."
Who said that? Fred Rogers—better known as TV's Mr. Rogers.
Such words of wisdom. Love is an active noun. No one said it's easy. It isn't. It includes so many other nouns such as respect, acceptance, trust and more. And it involves lots of verbs such as listen, share, care, support, affirm, encourage and more.
You and I know how difficult it is to accept someone just as they are at that moment. That is what love asks of us—not that we say, "I love you. Now change." And that's where all the verbs enter the picture, especially that first one: listen. When we listen deeply to the other, we can learn why they are as they are, why they believe the things they do, why they feel so strongly about one thing or another.
Following Fred Rogers' advice doesn't mean it's a one-way street. As important as it is for you to listen, for example, it's just as important for you to articulate what you feel and want so the other can hear you. You deserve to be heard as well. The healthiest relationships strive for mutuality.
Are you having any challenges lately with those you love? What are you being called to do about it?
No comments:
Post a Comment