Family Movie Night: Soul Surfer

Fridays are family movie night at our house.  We usually either rent a redbox, or find something on streaming netflix, or pull up something from the DVR, pull a big ole comforter in the floor for the girls with pillows, pop some popcorn and snuggle up with the zoo and watch a family flick.  As you can guess with 6 and 10 year old girls in the house, we usually watch something girly and cartoony, or something disneyish (How many times can I watch Another Cinderella Story with Selena Gomez?!), but this week, dad won out.  He and I have both wanted to see Soul Surfer, so we researched it and decided that the shark scene was short enough maybe it wouldn't scare E too bad.

It was a GREAT movie! I loved it! I cried like a baby, with my girls and the puglets piled on top of me on the sofa.  E had some of the sweetest things to say when she lost her arm..mom, she cant hug people the same etc. I loved the references they made to her faith.  If you don't know, its based on a true story, and she overcame with her faith in Jesus, and surfs as a pro still. To plagiarize a famous duo...."two thumbs up".  I know some people were upset that it was a "Christian" movie and the surfer girls were in bikini's but there is even a scene where they talk about a bikini as being an "eye patch" and if you tried to surf in that you'd show more than you intended.  We don't wear bikini's, but in this movie, with the exception of one scene with a photo shoot, they really were a non-issue. Language was fine, there was some praise music, and talking about God and Jesus and faith and you see dad reading a Bible. Mom, Dad and siblings have a good relationship, and there is talk of missions and a plug for World Vision (which H recognized immediately because we sponsor a child in Hondouras through World Vision, and H loves looking for mail from her and sending her mail).  There is some interaction with the lead character and a rival, and she handles it beautifully. There is a fight between best friends, and they handle it well too. Healthy ways to respond in relationships that kids NEED to see and understand. There are some great moments between mom and daughter, which I personally love to see, and dad and daughter, and healthy "communication" (read argument) between mom and dad even.  I loved it.  I'd watch it again, and I'd recommend it to any family with kids old enough to handle the shark attack.

Anyway, that was last night. Fast forward to tonight, as I was tucking the girls in to bed. I could tell that H was thinking about something...

Me: Baby, whats wrong?

H: Nothing.

Me:  I can tell somethings bothering you, what is it?

H: Its just, mom I've been thinking about Soul Surfer, and the shark.

Me: what about it?

H: that was scary

Me: it was, but was the shark the point of the movie?

H: no, it was about her not giving up, and surfing again

Me: yep, and how did she do that? how did she make it? who gave her strength?

H: ...umm...

E: I know I know! GOD!

H: yeah, God.

Me: yeah, what was the verse she quoted?

H: I can do all things...
E: through Jesus
H: who gives me strength

Me: yeah, thats right.  Bad things happen, but with Jesus we can come through them and find the good, right? How would her life have been different if she HADNT lost her arm?

H: mmm....  she might not have gone to Thailand and helped the kids?

Me: yep, anything else?

E: she might not have gotten the letters?

Me: what letters?

E: the letters for the kids...the kids who...
H: had lost arms?

Me: yep, thats right. Even though she lost an arm, and that was really really bad, because she didnt lose her faith in Jesus, and she looked for the good, God helped her to help other people.  The shark, it wasnt "bad" it was just an animal. So don't be scared of the shark....look for the good.

So, I was worried that E would be scared of the shark...but she wasn't, she got it, H however, was scared of the shark.  boy, I had that one backwards! But it was a great movie, and I loved the fact that it opened up a conversation about tough times.  :)