The Healthy Spiritual Journey • March 2026: I Am Somebody

“May the God of…encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another…” – Romans 15:5a

There are times in our life when we may feel unseen or unworthy – especially if we are overlooked for a position for which we know we are well-suited, or when we feel invisible because of our older age, or in the medical field, when we experience the all-too-frequent imposter syndrome. In literature and in films, messages of compassion and encouragement remind us of the sacred truth that we should love ourselves and one another, together in harmony. This month’s reflection gathers wisdom found in familiar culture, reminding us of our incredible worth as children of God. Say it out loud, I am somebody!

Rev. Jesse Jackson died on February 17th, 2026. His unforgettable “I Am Somebody” chant on Sesame Street in 1972 has been widely shown since his passing. He invited children to speak words that many adults struggle to believe: “I may be poor, but I am somebody. I may be young, but I am somebody. I may be small, but I am somebody. I may make a mistake, but I am somebody. I must be respected, protected, never rejected. I am God’s child. I am somebody!” His message was not about ego but about dignity. It was a reminder that every person has worth. We are created and beloved by God. This same affirmation echoes powerfully today, decades later. With the children, say it out loud, I am somebody!

A similar reminder appears in the film The Help, where the maid/nanny, Aibileen, gently repeats to a little girl who has been neglected by her parents, “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” There are times when we have the privilege of being God’s voice to others, as was Aibileen. With persistent love, the little girl grew to know that she had those attributes. She knew that she was somebody!

Mr. Rogers spent most of his working life expressing those kinds of thoughts. His message was radically simple: “I like you as you are, exactly as you are.” He believed that true love meets people where we are – with our flaws, fears, and imperfections – and says that we belong. You are somebody!

This truth is especially important at times of deep struggle when hope might be in short supply. In the movie Walk the Line, when Johnny Cash confesses to June Carter that he feels like “nothin’”, she responds with fierce tenderness and loyalty: “You’re not nothin’. You’re a good man, and God has given you a second chance.” Her words echo God’s grace. We are not defined by our lowest moments. God accepts us where we are, helps us begin again, and assures us that, as God’s creation, we are somebody!

Together, these voices form a harmonious chorus of encouragement: I am kind. I am smart. I am important. I am loved exactly as I am. I am not nothin’. I am a child of God. I am somebody!

As we journey through the month of March, let us carry these truths into our relationships. Let us encourage one another. Let us practice harmony – by respecting one another, listening to one another, and seeking the sacred worth in everyone we meet. Finally, remember that encouragement is not a small gesture, but a spiritual act that reflects the heart of God. Let us encourage one another to say, with confidence – I must be respected, protected, never rejected. I am God’s child. I am somebody!

In God’s love,

Lanny F. Wilson, MD