A Midweek Movie

Daily Gratitude Year 5-Day 95: Today, I am grateful for a midweek movie date.

I don't remember the last time we went to a movie on a weeknight. I am so glad we made an exception to the usual behavior. "Beauty and the Beast" was pure delight. What a gorgeous film. "Yes" and "thanks" to Sally, Nick, Jill and all who said, "Don't miss it on the big screen." They were right. Wow, what a piece of film. 

As Disney goes, the Beast is my favorite prince and Belle rates high on the princess scale, too. How can I not love a story with a message of redemption through love and eyes that see beyond the surface to real beauty? 

Emma Watson was a delight on every level. If there was ever a question she could break free of being "Hermione", she has answered that for fans everywhere. She was Belle. I am not sure I have ever seen an animated film brought to life with such attention to detail and perfection. Stunning.

The message of "be your own kind of beautiful" is a tale as old as time. Still, the Gaston's of the world seemed loved, celebrated and they gain the public's attention. Belle's beauty probably protected her from ridicule and placed her in the "odd" category, but what if she hadn't been so pretty be the world's standards.  Ahhh... but surface beauty fades. Soul beauty shines through. Smart and tenderhearted. What a Beauty she is. 

Love sees beyond the imperfections and the ugly in us.
Love hopes for what comes next.
Love heals.
Love rescues.
Love forgives.
Love inspires.
Love sacrifices for right.
Love always wins. 
Love changes us from within.

The Beast, spoiled and selfish is transformed by love into one who would sacrifice himself for the one who had rescued him. Why? "Because I love her." 

The Beast was changed by her love before he even realized she did, indeed, love him back. He could not see what was obvious to everyone else because of he knew the depth of his ugliness before love's transformation. 

Don't we all know that doubt? Have you ever found this scripture a bit scary:

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” -1 Samuel 16:7

Reassuring or terrifying?

He knows our heart. He knows our beastliness. Still... He loves, rescues, treasures and is faithful. He loves even though he knows our faults, failures and past. We all have scars. This world can be hard, but He is faithful, persistent and waiting for us to return to Him with our whole hearts. He puts broken hearts back together so don't worry if it is in pieces. 


For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

"He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him". Yes... it is that simple and hard, too. But, it is a love like no other. Willing to die... that we might live. That love fuels our own ability to love with His love. On my own, I'm kind of beastly. 

Today, I am grateful for a midweek movie date and the reminder that love changes everything.