A discussion over what clothes my twins should wear this morning (a summer dress....or more practical for bike riding.....shorts and t shirt) drew from them both (one after the other) 'well.....I can make my own way!' They wanted to wear a summer dress and were sure their decision was best (despite the brisk wind outside!).
This is a quote directly from 'Brave' where the heroine princess doesn't want to follow the 'way' of her parents (which involves an arranged marriage) and instead seeks the help a witch to make a potion that will change her fate. Change her fate it does.....but it also means turning her mother into a bear and a host of adventures to try and change her back - which she finally does. In doing so she realises she loves her family and her parents realise that she should be free to make her own choice.
I have been thinking a bit about how films/stories have been affecting my children's worldview. As well as this line from Brave, I have also this week been asked to have a 'Disney kiss' and been attacked by a 2.5 year old Lego Ninjago! I'm not advocating arranged marriages or a ban on Disney films, but I am beginning to realise how much of these films/stories build my children's imaginations and responses.
Some of these are positive - the love shown by Anna for Elsa, and eventually by Elsa for Anna in Frozen is something my twins re-create often in role play. But as shown above, some of these are at best mixed and at worse are creating a worldview in their minds that is against the message of the gospel.
Reality is, the gospel says that we can't make our own way and that what we need to give us identity and happiness in life isn't a romantic relationship that starts (and ends it seems to me!) in a 'Disney kiss' - but in finding rescue from the mess of our own way in Jesus.
I don't want to stop my children watching Disney (although I have put a hold on Lego Ninjago for the meantime!) but I do want to have conversations with them about the messages that these films give. I want them to be able to decode for themselves where these stories err from the gospel message and be able to 'read' them through the lens of the Bible.
I also want to give them strong imaginative stories and worlds that present the message of the Bible accurately and clearly. God has given us creative imaginations and I want my kids to revel in that! Going to go and start reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe with them now.........any other suggestions?!
