Have you seen the previews for the movie “Miracles from Heaven?” I saw one, and it looks like Jennifer Garner plays me in it. Okay, she actually plays a woman named Christy Beam, but there are some similarities in our lives: a daughter’s terrifying, sudden-onset illness. A million questions. No answers. A crisis of faith. Hope. Despair. Then their family experiences a miraculous healing. And that’s where “based on a true story” pulls away from our story.
Given our situation, I don’t know how to react to this movie. My first impulse is to warn people about it. “Don’t go see that movie, because not everything ends with the problem tied up in a neat package. God doesn’t always work that way.” But I also feel compelled to tell everyone to go see it.
“Please see that movie. For me. Because you get a glimpse of the reality of our struggle.” Empathy is like cool aloe gel on a sunburn. When someone looks at us with pain, not pity, and says that they are sorry, it’s like they take a piece of our pain away with them. So maybe it’s selfish to want everyone to see this movie and share the aloe.
But–southern accent Jennifer Garner isn’t probably isn’t me at all. She probably doesn’t spell-swear or fall asleep reading to her kids. Her hair probably looks amazing even when it’s supposed to be messy and matted with tears. Deeper than that, here’s what I’m afraid the movie misses: Praying doesn’t mean getting God to do what I want. Praying is about getting me to be who God wants. Maybe that takes shape in the way I want it to. Maybe it doesn’t. Usually it doesn’t. And it’s hard.
I’m not sure if “supporting us” means going to see this movie or not. So either way, thanks for your support. Wasn’t that easy!?! (If you do see it, you’ll have to let me know what you think.) Ultimately, I’m not sure I’m strong enough to see it. (Or maybe I’m too strong? I’d had to cause damage to the theater if I hurled my Junior Mints at the screen.) Anyway, David doesn’t want to at all, and there’s probably not another date for me who could handle all the sobbing…
Whether or not you have seen the movie, thank you for your continued prayers for Cee and for all of us.
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I don’t even know how I found your post, but just had to comment. It is now mid July and maybe you saw the movie….maybe not. I did. And I read the book. And I researched and found interviews with the real Mom and daughter. And with Jennifer Garner. AND…..I am so glad I did it all. Jennifer and her leading man kept connecting with the real mom and dad to make certain that what they said and how they acted was in keeping with how they would/did behave. They made great effort to keep it real.
I don’t know your struggle, but this isn’t a fictional story….it is just one that happened to this family. They don’t even know how or why it happened like it did. It just did.
I cried a lot during this film…..painful tears with the parents and daughter (I could relate to some of it). And joyful tears (I could also relate). So much remains a mystery, but isn’t it amazing and wonderful that film makers would even consider a story like this? And even better that they chose one that actually happened. To attempt the logistics of this story are amazing to me, but they did it……and I felt enriched because of it.
If you did/do see this perhaps it will give you hope, too. I would see this again and again just for that very reason. Hope.
Blessings, Joan
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts… I still have not seen the movie, but with your encouragement I might now. I appreciate you taking the time to comment!
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Hollywood does glamourize and tie everything up into a nice neat bow – because their viewers expect it. That’s partly why I like European films as much as I do – they don’t necessarily force the happy ending all the time.
That said, you are *so right* about prayer not being about getting God to do things for us or give things to us! Unfortunately, I think a lot of people miss that memo – or, just don’t understand it.
We keep you in our prayers here. I’m also of two minds about seeing this movie – I couldn’t figure out why, but maybe because deep down I was wrestling with similar thoughts? As always, way to make me think!
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Oh, yeah, this movie is supposed to be based on a true story. But, I could see some people (not saying you and your family) wondering why God can’t do for their family what He did for this family… So, definitely caution is wise!