It is Friday night. This night is no different than most Fridays. Our family is preparing for MOVIE NIGHT! The popcorn is popping wildly in the popper and the aroma is floating all through the house. Butter is melting in a pan on the stove and a dozen apples are being washed and sliced. A variety of sliced cheeses await on the plate.
In the living room, the sheets are spread on the floor. There is a stack of paper plates with napkins. A variety of popcorn seasonings stand beside an array of cracker boxes with each family member having their favorites. As the final preparations are made, we either choose a movie from our collection or we find the rented movie. (This is sometimes a tricky process!) After the prayer, we watch family home- videos. We enjoy reminiscing of old times when the children were growing. It is somehow comforting to re-visit the places we have lived and the people we have known. Re-living camping trips and vacations bring back so many wonderful memories.
We don't have outside cable services and watching movies is a special treat for all of us. We are members of a movie rental service, however, and this has provided us with a wonderful variety of educational, fun and enriching movies that would not be available otherwise. A Man for All Seasons was a very powerful movie displaying strong convictions is spite of persecution and ridicule. Our teenagers love the old Mickey Rooney movie about the building of Boy's Town. Last week, we watched the 1938 version of Nancy Drew starring Bonita Granville. We all laughed so hard! We watched many of the scenes over and over again.
As parents, it's our responsibility to monitor and direct the viewing habits of our children. This has a very real impact on their hearts and minds. It will affect their lives and the lives of future generations. Proverbs 4:23 says, Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life. As we parents provide wholesome movies that teach and support Biblical principles, we are reinforcing the character qualities that we want our children to emulate.
This is a tradition our family has held for 23 years and they are rich, cherished times. We look forward to it every week. It is so many different things to all of us. It is tradition, closeness and memories made. As we watch, we laugh and cry together and are sometimes inspired or challenged. This tradition that we have enjoyed for so many years is now a part of our grandchildren's lives.
The general media is producing movies that reflect a culture that is moving away from Biblical truths. However, there are still organizations that are working very diligently to provide movies that uphold strong values. It is worth the effort it takes to locate them. In the years to come, we look forward to enjoying this simple blessing. We will use it to enrich our family life using this scripture to measure it's content.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8
