In this season of growing division among us, I would like to share an encouraging example of the loving acceptance of your “neighbor,” despite differences of race, background, beliefs, or opinions. It’s not easy, but Ray Stevens’ iconic song reminds us that we are all one race – the human race – created with a beauty all our own. The Bible tells us to love God first, and our neighbor as ourself. Enjoy the lyrics and the song.

SUE – Voice II

Everything Is Beautiful
Song by Ray Stevens

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Everything is beautiful in it’s own way.
Like a starry summer night,
Or a snow covered winter’s day.
And everybody’s beautiful in their own way, Under God’s Heaven
The world’s gonna find the way.

There is none so blind
As He who will not see.
We must not close up minds
We must let our thoughts be free.
For every hour that passes by,
You know the world gets a little bit older.
It’s time to realize that beauty lies
In the eyes of the beholder.

And everything is beautiful in its own way.
Like a starry summer night
On a snow covered winter’s day, ah, sing it children!
Everybody’s beautiful in their own way.
Under God’s Heaven
The world’s gonna find a way.

We shouldn’t care about the length of His hair
Or the color of His skin. Don’t worry about what shows from without,
But the love that lives within.
Everything is gonna work out fine,
Just take a little time to the look on the good side, my friend.
And everything is beautiful in it’s own way
Like a starry summer night,
On a snow covered winter’s day, ah, sing it children!

Everybody’s beautiful in their own way.
Under God’s Heaven
The world’s gonna find a way, one more time –

Everything is beautiful in its own way.
Like a starry summer night,
On a snow covered winter’s day.

(Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Ray Stevens / H. R. Ragsdale
Everything Is Beautiful lyrics © Combine Music Corp., Ahab Music Company Inc)