Talk About It

  I enjoy a good story whether it comes in movie, book, Broadway musical, or old folk tale format.  I love the human struggle, the courage to rise above the circumstances, the patience to wait out the storm, and the humility to turn the other cheek and love your enemy.  I really can't get enough of a good story.  Needless to say, we are often watching a movie with our girls, or reading a book together, or...well you get the idea.  And although I love diving into another world through the experience, what I love even more is sharing that experience with the ones I love.
  Seldom do we watch a movie or t.v. show without stopping it to discuss the characters' motives, actions and decisions.  Many times after finishing a chapter in a book, we naturally discuss the underlying meaning.  Not like a literature class, where you have to guess the meaning the teacher is looking for, regardless of what you really got out of it.  But,  in a more relaxed and truly informative manner. 
  A good story offers the opportunity to discover some of the harsher aspects of our world without having to experience them first-hand.  It can give a platform to discuss good and poor family relationships, and what we would like to see in our family.  We have talked about sex before marriage, and how people flatter to deceive.  We have talked about drugs and the hunger for power.  These are discussions that can help serve as warnings against poor choices.
  But, what I really love to talk about is the redeeming qualities of the stories.  Does the character choose to act selflessly towards those in the story?  Is there repentance and change of heart?  Did the hero rise up against great odds by never giving up hope?  Did the siblings choose to share and talk kindly to one another?
Many fantastic discussions and life lessons have come about because we talked through what was happening in the story.
  Take the movie The Blind Side for example.  We talked about the projects. We talked about Michael's mother being a crack addict and having many babies with different men.  We talked about the rich white private school, and why it might be awkward for a boy from the projects to attend there.  We talked about the family that took him in and how they treated him with love and kindness, and how they had to battle the prejudice of those around them.  The point is, we talked, and talked.  And every now and then one of the girls will make a connection between something they read, or saw, or experienced with one of our talks.  We are sharing and learning together.
 I guess the point of this post is to encourage us to watch, and read with teaching in mind. Look for things that they need warnings about, or highlight the exemplary actions of the characters.  Don't just turn on and tune out.  Don't just read a chapter and then close the book and be done...keep it alive as you share it with your family.