.jpg)
I recently started having conversations
with my daughters about movies we are watching together. It is amazing how much can be absorbed from a
small amount of time spent in front of the television. There are so many value systems,
philosophies, and ideologies that our children are being exposed to just
through the television. I have to admit
that there was a time that I just wanted to shelter my children from it. I wanted to keep them from being exposed to
misguided beliefs and ideas. Then I realized that this would not help my
children navigate the murky waters of life.
It would only hinder them from making good choices and only confuse
them. So instead of protecting them from
the world I have decided to try to teach them and give them the tools they need
to navigate the world. I want to teach
them how to see the world the way God sees it.
I want my children to be able to filter this life through God’s Word and
His truth and discern the truth from lies.
This is why I have tried to be intentional about talking to them about
concepts they are being exposed to when watching television and movies. We are
still selective when we choose movies to watch, but with most movies there are
good points and bad points and I would like to share some thoughts about
different movies we have watched recently.
The first movie that I wanted to share
about is Frozen. I have to admit Disney isn’t always a favorite
of mine, especially when it comes to the messages that have been taught to
young girls. I was actually surprised by
some of the messages and morals that were taught in this movie. As I watched the movie I came up with some
thought provoking conversations that I want to have with my own girls.
Here are a few concepts that were addressed in the movie.
1. Emphasis on not marrying someone you’ve just met. This was a very nontraditional Disney message. I was definitely surprised that this was a part of a Disney Princess movie especially since every other princess falls in love before she truly knows her prince. In the movie Kristof even points out that marrying someone you’ve just met shows a lack of good judgment. Someone should point that out to most of the other Disney Princesses. Of course there still is a love twist and Anna does fall for Kristof, but at least they don’t get married after only spending one evening dancing together at a ball. I really liked that Disney addresses this concept because it can lead to so many great conversations about really getting to know your prince/boyfriend and really seeing his true character before getting married.
2. Another concept that is addressed in the movie is the concept of fear and the control it can have over a person. Elsa’s character operates in fear most of her life. She isolates herself because of fear. She loses control when fear takes a grip on her heart, but love is what changes her. Not love from a prince, but sisterly love, the kind of love that puts other people’s needs before our own. This can lead to a great conversation about how God wants us to love one another. It can also lead to a conversation about finding peace in times when we are afraid. Peace coming not from our own control over a situation, but from understanding Gods great love for us.
3. This last point was the best part of the movie. Spoiler Alert Don't read this last one until you've seen the movie……The movie actually ended a little differently than the typical movie. It wasn’t the love of prince that saves the day, but rather Anna’s demonstration of sacrificial love for her sister. Anna shows the ultimate act of love when she willingly sacrifices her own life for her sisters. This act of love shown in the movie can lead to a conversation about how Christ loved us so much that He sacrificed His life for ours.
What are your thoughts? What did you talk about with your children after seeing this movie?
Here are a few concepts that were addressed in the movie.
1. Emphasis on not marrying someone you’ve just met. This was a very nontraditional Disney message. I was definitely surprised that this was a part of a Disney Princess movie especially since every other princess falls in love before she truly knows her prince. In the movie Kristof even points out that marrying someone you’ve just met shows a lack of good judgment. Someone should point that out to most of the other Disney Princesses. Of course there still is a love twist and Anna does fall for Kristof, but at least they don’t get married after only spending one evening dancing together at a ball. I really liked that Disney addresses this concept because it can lead to so many great conversations about really getting to know your prince/boyfriend and really seeing his true character before getting married.
2. Another concept that is addressed in the movie is the concept of fear and the control it can have over a person. Elsa’s character operates in fear most of her life. She isolates herself because of fear. She loses control when fear takes a grip on her heart, but love is what changes her. Not love from a prince, but sisterly love, the kind of love that puts other people’s needs before our own. This can lead to a great conversation about how God wants us to love one another. It can also lead to a conversation about finding peace in times when we are afraid. Peace coming not from our own control over a situation, but from understanding Gods great love for us.
3. This last point was the best part of the movie. Spoiler Alert Don't read this last one until you've seen the movie……The movie actually ended a little differently than the typical movie. It wasn’t the love of prince that saves the day, but rather Anna’s demonstration of sacrificial love for her sister. Anna shows the ultimate act of love when she willingly sacrifices her own life for her sisters. This act of love shown in the movie can lead to a conversation about how Christ loved us so much that He sacrificed His life for ours.
What are your thoughts? What did you talk about with your children after seeing this movie?
