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There goes the neighborhood. Late last year, the final original episode of Mister Rogers's show aired on PBS. After 30 years of entertaining little hearts and minds, Fred Rogers put away his sneakers for the final time. The show continues in reruns, but Mister Rogers's retirement reminded me how much I miss our visits.

When my daughters were preschool age, I welcomed the cardigan-clad Presbyterian minister to our home almost every day. Or more accurately, we were invited into his house and, by a short train trip through his living room wall, into the Neighborhood of Make Believe. There I found that, thanks to puppets King Friday and Prince Tuesday, the message of Sunday was enacted all week long for a petit flock led by a serene shepherd in gym shoes.

In fact, looking back, I can say that (almost) everything I needed to know about pastoring a church, I learned in that pre-kindergarten. Mister Rogers taught me much about life in my own neighborhood—er, congregation. Here are just a few of the nuggets I've gleaned from the Neighborhood.

Mister Rogers always reminded his viewers that he likes them just the way they are. It was something his Grandfather McFeeley used to say. While other family members discussed young Fred's introverted nature, someone he loved and respected celebrated his praise-worthy qualities.

I needed that reminder in my first church. Early on, a few vocal critics challenged my adequacy as a spiritual shepherd. It was painful. I didn't feel loveable or loved. But when I heard Mister Rogers telling my daughters "I like you just the way you are," it felt good—to them and to me. People could like me, just the way I was. Mister Rogers said so.

I began to take the power of affirmation more seriously. As hard as it was, I determined to focus on the positive qualities of my detractors.

If the puppet-residents of Make Believe could find something likeable in the wicked, self-centered, bulbous-nosed Lady Elaine Fairchild, then surely I could like the head of my church's mission society. Everyone has something worthy of appreciation, right?

When I celebrated aspects of their personalities I genuinely liked, their attitude toward me was less critical.

Even though it was called Mister Rogers's Neighborhood, Fred's program was not a one-man show. John Costa arranged the music and led the jazz ensemble, Betty Aberlin sang and interacted with the puppets, and Mr. McFeeley delivered the mail. There were many more regulars, both on camera and off. They had much fun working—and playing—together.

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