Steve Sikes Blog
Steve Sikes Blog
For over 30 years Fred Rogers opened his children’s TV program, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” with the following welcome:
“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?...
I’ve always wanted to have a neighbor just like you.
I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.
So, let’s make the most of this beautiful day.
Since we’re together we might as well say:
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won’t you be my neighbor?
Won’t you please?
Won’t you please?
Please won’t you be my neighbor?”
While reading the above limerick – did the music of Mr. Rogers’ song come back to memory? For me, the music and the visualization came back. I can imagine Mr. Rogers donning his cardigan sweater and slipping on his “comfy” and quiet sneakers! Ah… those were the days of the Neighborhood Trolley, King Friday XIII, and Mr. McFeely, the character who ran the Speedy Delivery Messenger Service!
To me, the words, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” set the tone for the entire show; a warm invitation open to everyone, no matter what!
As I think back over the years, one of my favorite neighbors comes to mind. She was a Christian widow in her 70’s named Margaret. Margaret reared 5 kids of her own and by the time we moved in across the street from her, they were all grown. We found our neighbor spending her time taking care of infant babies being put up for adoption. Margaret was a strong prayer warrior in our church family; she was a servant; she prayed with Patti every morning during their daily walks in our neighborhood. She also provided babysitting for our children on a number of occasions, allowing Patti and me to go out on dates. Margaret was a righteous widow who encouraged and strengthened Patti and me on a daily basis.
Thinking about our widow neighbor who cared for orphans brings me to two truths (of many) about God:
1. GOD HAS ALWAYS HAD a heart for the widow, orphan, alien, stranger, and any oppressed and/or poor person in the neighborhood! His desire is to serve, take care of, feed, shelter, protect, and see after the best interests of all “considered” underdogs in the neighborhood!
Deuteronomy 10:17-22 “For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.”
2. GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN (INTIMATELY ASSOCIATED HIMSELF WITH) the widow, orphan, alien, stranger, and any oppressed and/or poor person in the neighborhood!
Matthew 25:34-40 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
Deuteronomy 10:17-22, invites us to join God in being neighborly – especially to widows, orphans, aliens, etc., and Matthew 25:40 gives us insight of a God displayed as even the least in the neighborhood!
And so I believe, in Texas – in a very real way, God lived across the street from us for five years. We got to see Him live through the life of a widow who had a heart for widows, orphans, strangers…. unwanted babies.
“WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?” is more that a line of a song sung by Mr. Rogers. It is an invitation from God to not only be neighborly (to everyone) but to be His neighbor as well. Who knows…. GOD just may be the orphan in Haiti needing help, or the exhausted single parent living next door, or the stranger sitting behind you this morning!
“WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?”
Today is “Orphan Sunday” – PLEASE SAY, YES!
God is good. Mr. Steve