This month, we want to reflect on a powerful story by journalist, Tom Junod, whose life was changed by his unlikely friendship with Mister Rogers. The 2019 film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is loosely based on their relationship and Junod’s article, “Can You Say…Hero” from Esquire Magazine in 1998. The article and the movie offer a portrait of a man who helped generations of children and adults know that they mattered—not because of what they achieved, but because they were alive and made in God’s image.

 

At the beginning of his article, Junod tells a story from his childhood—a moment when he lost his well-loved stuffed animal, “Old Rabbit.” In his desperation, he prayed as his parents went to find it. That moment of answered prayer shaped his understanding of love and faith. He learned that prayer takes effort and love endures—even when it feels like everything is lost.

 

That’s the beauty of common grace. Even when we’re not aware of it—or when the world feels unbearably dark—God’s love is still at work. It’s the breath in our lungs, the moment of kindness from a stranger, the strength we didn’t know we had. It’s His steady presence in the middle of our mess. There is goodness because of the Father’s love and there is nothing we can do to make God love us more or less. His love is not conditional as we can see in 1 John 4:10, “Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” His love was not given to us based on our performance, our past, or even whether we felt it in the moment. It simply is.

 

Mister Rogers understood this kind of love and grace. His daily ritual of changing into a red cardigan and sneakers wasn’t just a TV gimmick—it was a statement: “You’re safe here. You matter.” He reminded children (and adults) that they were worthy of love just by being.

In one pivotal scene from the film, Mister Rogers looks across the table at Lloyd (based on Judon)—who is skeptical, wounded, and lost. With quiet clarity, Rogers says, 

“I don’t think you are broken. I know you are a man of conviction. A person who knows the difference between what is wrong and what is right. Try to remember that your relationship with your father also helped to shape those parts. He helped you become what you are.”

 

With the words from Mister Rogers, Lloyd’s perspective begins to shift, because he starts to realize what has shaped him—love. A love that says, “You’re safe. You matter.”

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At TRM, we witness this transformation every single day. We meet people who have been thrown away by society—just like Old Rabbit. People whose stories are marked by abuse, addiction, incarceration, poverty, and trauma. But through God’s grace, and through the loving presence of our staff, volunteers, and partners, we get to look them in the eye and say, “You are not forgotten. You are loved. You are worthy.”

 

This is what it means to stand in the gap—to be like Mister Rogers in a world that desperately needs kindness and truth. At TRM, we walk alongside people who have been told they are too broken, too far gone, too messy. And through Christ, we declare, “Not so!” We become the ones who love them in the gap. Even when life doesn’t make sense, we can anchor ourselves to the goodness of the Father. Many of us discover His goodness precisely through the brokenness of the world. The cracks in our stories become the very places where His light and love breakthrough. That’s the hope we cling to.

 

We believe in being the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus to those who have been overlooked, misunderstood, or forgotten. That means creating a safe and loving environment where people don’t just receive services—they experience transformation. From our shelters to our programs, every interaction is an opportunity to affirm someone’s worth and reflect the love of the Father.

 

Our mission at TRM is not only to meet needs; but, to restore dignity. Whether someone is walking through our doors for the first time or taking their next steps toward independence, we want them to know that they matter deeply. That’s why we are committed to listening with empathy, responding with compassion, and walking alongside each person with faith and hope. This work takes all of us—staff, volunteers, donors, prayer partners, and friends. Thank you for being part of this journey. As we move forward together, may we continue to be a place where God’s love is made visible. Where every person, no matter their story, is reminded that they are known, loved, and worthy.

 

So, this Father’s Day, whether you’re celebrating or grieving, let this truth settle in: You are known. You are loved. You are worthy—because your Heavenly Father made you so. Let that be the voice you hear louder than your pain, your past, or your doubts. If you know someone who feels like Old Rabbit—worn, tossed aside, hopeless—sit with them. Pray with them and speak words of life over them. Why? Because when we love others in their brokenness, we reflect the heart of the Father who never stops loving us in ours.

 

The Father’s love is here, His grace is present, and His hope is already at work.

Thank you, Father. †