The Picture of Love

Last night we saw a movie called "The Railway Children", (a DVD from the Menomonie library). We were very skeptical as to what kind of a movie this was as we seldom watch movies but we were very blessed by this one and wanted to share some thoughts with you.

The story is about a rich family who have 3 children. Two girls and then a boy, (so cute and innocent). The Dad somehow is framed for something he did not do and was taken to jail, then to prison. This left the family desolate and they end up selling and moving to a faraway home in another town. It is a big old country home with no maids and things that they were used to and the house even had rats. Anyway, the children never know what actually happened to their father until much later in the movie as the mother did not want to disgrace the father to them. She is a very loving wife and mother and her older daughter, who is very perceptive, can tell her mother is a broken women. So she has to be very strong and mature for her young age. (I really liked her part). Anyway, the children are always busy looking for adventure which they find as the needs of their home unfold. The challenges of trying to get coal to heat the house, then the mom gets very sick and needs the doctor which puts them in charge totally of not only each other but even of taking care of their sick mother. Well necessity is the mother of invention and they put their cute adorable heads together and find amazing ways to conquer all the problems that challenge their very existence. All through the show, this sort of thing occurs and it is so heartwarming to watch the many ways that they work together in their mission called survival. They even were involved with other situations where strangers were in need and they were able to rescue and help them as well. They always had a "mission" it seemed. But the main thing on their hearts was their father. Would he return? Would he remember them? The mother was even concerned about the children, would they forget their father. Anyway, deep in each of their hearts was the fathers return. That was their desire, their precious hope in life. In the meantime their hearts were knit together in their love and the mission that always lay before them.

Without giving any more details, I think you get the picture of what I am gleaning from this movie; of how this applies to us as Christians and the things we can learn from this story. The mother and children, each had one main love which united them to a sense of duty and a real mission in life. They were very dedicated to each other because of it. They were not fighting with each other, pointing out the others faults or shortcomings. There was no pride or ego to be nurtured but instead there was great love, compassion and humility amongst them, even when they dealt with outsiders who were not favorable to them and what they were doing. Instead, they end up winning the hearts of many people. All the while, the children were watchful of their mother and of each other, always caring for each other. Even when they happened upon someone who was in need, they all rallied around that person and rescued him out of all his troubles as it wasn't just themselves they were concerned with. Then in the end, because of their united front, were able to get their father out of prison and the show ends with his return. It was really a tear jerker for me. :-) Yet it wasn't till this morning that I could put this together in my mind as to why it touched my heart so. The longing that I have had in my heart for the unity and the love among believers has been a consuming passion since I first became a Christian. This same sense of commitment to the Lord, and to His body.

Growing in Grace

From Charles Spurgeon

He who grows in grace remembers that he is but dust, and he therefore does not expect his fellow Christians to be anything more. He overlooks ten thousands of their faults because he knows his God overlooks twenty thousand in his own case. He does not expect perfection in the creature, and, therefore he is not dissapionted when he does not find it.