I just returned from watching the highly anticipated new movie A Wrinkle In Time. Both of my daughters have read the book, which is the first in a series of four books that follow the adventures of Meg and Calvin, so we were excited as a family to see the movie once it hit theaters.
Meg struggles to fit in at school. She is bullied. She is angry. And, she is mourning the loss of her father who disappeared four years ago. As I watched the movie, I found myself recalling countless conversations I’ve had with students across America who too struggle to fit it, to feel significant, and who are dealing with challenging situations at home.
Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and friend, Calvin befriend an odd group of women – Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Weatherspoon), Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling) and Mrs. Witch (Oprah Winfrey). These three ladies take the children on a strange journey, promising to help them find and rescue their father, Dr. Alex Murray (Chris Pine). The three are swept off to another planet through the process of the tesser – the process of wrinkling space and time.
While on their journey, the children come in contact with It, a massive blackness that threatens to overtake the universe and that is threatening Earth. The ladies tell the children their father is fighting It.
If you haven’t seen A Wrinkle In Time, I encourage you to do so. The movie provides for a great opportunity for you to have a conversation with your family about humanity’s ongoing battle with light and darkness. Here are four thoughts about this movie for you to consider discussing with your children:
1. The world will hate you.
Mean girls at Meg’s school hated her for who she was. It worked hard to convince Meg that her struggles with fear, a lack of self-worth, and rejection from her peers would go away if she would merely allow It to rule her. Jesus tells us in John 15:19,”If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” Remind your children that there will almost always be someone in your life who won’t accept you for who you are. Choosing to live a God-honoring life won’t always be popular or easy, and people may hate you for doing what is right.
2. We are at war with the real It!
In A Wrinkle In Time, It represents Satan. When Charles Wallace is enticed to follow It, the evidence of the darkness in his life becomes extremely clear. The movie does a great job of revealing the effect of sin and how it infects our entire being, eventually completely destroying us. Ephesians 6:12-13 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Satan hates your children! As parents, we can’t always protect them from the darkness of this world. We can equip them with the truth of God’s Word and teach them to fight for what is right. Mrs. Witch reminded the children that they need to “fight and help bring hope back to the world.” We must continue to encourage our children to fight for what is right everyday.
3. There is always a way out.
Satan works hard to customize a plan, just as It did with Meg, to deceive your children as it relates to their specific struggles. In moments of temptation, Satan wants us to believe that the only option we have is to surrender. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is a great reminder for your children that there is always a way out in any moment of temptation – – “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
4. Family is worth the fight.
Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin were willing to risk it all for family. Our children need to know that though no family is perfect, God has placed us with the family He desires we have. Each family member plays a critical role in helping build strong families. At the end of the movie, Mrs. Witch reminded the children, “All of those willing to face the dark and bring light to the world can succeed.” As parents, we need to remind our children that family is worth the fight.
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