Rita’s Movie Review – Miracles from Heaven

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Rita’s Movie Review – Miracles from Heaven

By Rita Davidson

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though NOTHING is a miracle.

The other is as though EVERYTHING is a miracle.”

Albert Einstein

After all our family has suffered over the years and especially after our devastating house fire it was our amazing miracles that held us together. I hold this quote near and dear to my heart.

When I seen the trailer for Miracles from Heaven I was EXCITED to be getting a pre-screening but NOT prepared for how GOOD it was.

The movie opens with the family getting ready for Church. The mother prodding them to hurry up, with a little light-hearted discussion about miracles, Disney and going to hell.

At Church the Pastor makes “fun” while explaining the faith, (a painful reminder what we find in some of our own Catholic Churches). He finishes by saying, how ‘faith is the only true shelter’. This remark we learn is almost prophetic before the story really starts.

The young girl Annabelle “Anna” (played by Kylie Rogers; who played an amazing part!) starts throwing up after the Church gathering.

Mom, Christi Beam (played by Jennifer Garner) worries and fusses over Anna while the dad (played VERY well by Martin Henderson) cleans up the mess.

Fast-forward to a doctor visit; which we learn is weeks later and the 3rd appointment. I felt like this was a poor transition, but I soon caught up with the faster pace of the film.

The first diagnosis is lactose intolerance, then acid reflux. For families with complicated health issues you can really sympathize with the worry and sleepless nights. Finally with the mothers insistence they get some answers.

It reminds me how God is so patient and kind with us, slowly bringing us into a new cross, a bit at a time…If we seen the whole picture, we might faint with fear. While the lactose intolerance was a worry, it shows the family uniting to join Anna in giving up pizza. They have no idea how much worse it will be.

As the movie progresses we painfully watch about medical bills, stress, lack of sleep, Church members who are less than charitable, extreme worry and fear. The father, Kevin’s more laidback attitude shows he is relying on God to work things out, while Christi is doing all the details and losing her faith in the process. I call this the “Martha syndrome”.

They eventually diagnose Anna with Intestinal Motility Disorder where the intestines literally stop working. She nearly dies from a 100% abdominal obstruction by this time and is saved by surgery.

The first surgery is only the beginning. Anna with a painfully, increasinly bloated belly, the mother settles into a routine of flying every six weeks with her for treatments, the dad works overtime to try keep up with the bills.

When the stress finally becomes too much and they are separated for too long, Kevin tries to bring the family to see them but the credit card is declined at the airport. When the sisters are overheard to say “what if we don’t make it before she dies” suddenly, miraculously, the last credit card is approved and let’s them through.

It reminds me how God is so patient and kind with us, slowly bringing us into a new cross, a bit at a time…If we seen the whole picture, we might faint with fear. While the lactose intolerance was a worry, it shows the family uniting to join Anna in giving up pizza. They have no idea how much worse it will be.

As the movie progresses we painfully watch about medical bills, stress, lack of sleep, Church members who are less than charitable, extreme worry and fear. The father, Kevin’s more laidback attitude shows he is relying on God to work things out, while Christi is doing all the details and losing her faith in the process. I call this the “Martha syndrome”.

They eventually diagnose Anna with Intestinal Motility Disorder where the intestines literally stop working. She nearly dies from a 100% abdominal obstruction by this time and is saved by surgery.

The first surgery is only the beginning. Anna with a painfully, increasinly bloated belly, the mother settles into a routine of flying every six weeks with her for treatments, the dad works overtime to try keep up with the bills.

When the stress finally becomes too much and they are separated for too long, Kevin tries to bring the family to see them but the credit card is declined at the airport. When the sisters are overheard to say “what if we don’t make it before she dies” suddenly, miraculously, the last credit card is approved and let’s them through.

By now you better have your tissue box out as Anna’s pain has reaches a peak. She is weary from the constant pain and no relief. When Anna tells her mother through her tears and pain, ‘I want to die, I want to go to heaven where there is no pain, I want this to be all over”. You feel the mothers pain acutely.

Her mother is horrified as any mother would be to hear this from their children. But as any mother who has watched their own children suffer, when does their will to die become selfish and our will to keep them NOT be selfish?

This story brings out some terribly important details about FAITH, LIFE and FAMILY that need to be told. So many of us are willing to ask God for LITTLE things, but do we ask God about the BIG things we need? Do we REALLY BELIEVE what He can do?

Christi, the mother has her own test of faith though all this. During an argument with Kevin, (I can only imagine they had quite a few) she finally admits she no longer has faith. You can see how this pains her husband. Christi, I imagine, is like the ever busy “Martha”, too wrapped up in DOING to PRAY and her faith gets left behind.

When they finally leave the hospital this time, there is little hope, as the doctor hugs little Anna knowing he may not see her again.

“Families are the best medicine” one of my favorite quotes from this movie.

Anna now depressed, has become tired from her constant pain and angry. Her sister pulls her outside to play with them and they climb an old tree. When she falls INSIDE the tree, it takes hours to get her out.

It climaxes when the emergency trucks, news people, noise, lights, confusion all collide for Christi into a final, desperate prayer at the foot of the tree. It is so moving, (TISSUE ALERT) you can FEEL her pain, her prayer, her fear, and desperation as she reaches out to God through prayer over and over again. (I watched this part THREE times it was so MOVING!)

Her husband joins her and then others gather with her. All that time during Anna’s illness she struggled with her faith now at the end of all things, she has nothing left but God. It is a painful spot to be…when God reduces us to nothing so we can find HIM who is EVERYTHING.

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One of my FAVORITE images from the film and FAVORITE moments too. Christi is praying at the tree as a last ditch hope for her daughter who is inside it.

The ending soundtrack was so beautiful I hope they keep it in the final version. It’s worth the wait the entire movie…I won’t ruin the WHOLE movie for you, but this is a MUST SEE movie for families.

  • It is a MUST SEE movie for mothers. Mothers who carry the tears of the world in our hearts. For mothers who have lost, and mothers who have lost hope and feel alone.
  • This movie is for fathers, for those who work so hard for their families, are so worn out from fighting against the world to keep their families safe, for fathers worn out from the struggle.
  • Lastly, this movie is for those with weak faith and for those that need to learn to SEE God’s miracles EVERYWHERE. What MIRACLES do you NEED in your life right now?

This story transcends space and time …this is a riveting, heart wrenching story how a family survives a tragedy with a miracle ONLY with Gods grace. I URGE you to see it,

in THEATRES March 16th, 2016  #MiraclesfromHeaven

See the movie trailer

 

 

PLEASE Bring it to CANADIAN VIEWERS! 🙂

Catholic notes;

  • O my God – said twice in the film
  • Protestant
  • Girls and women in pants, sleeveless, mini skirts, otherwise clean and decent film

 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. It had so many other sweet and poignant scenes, I didn’t want to ruin the story for you. Come back here and give me your thoughts on it!

With love,

Rita Xo 🙂

12717618_955329111214575_1556987311828504946_nRita is a Catholic wife, and mother of seven, with three autistic boys.  Author, of “Immodesty, Satan’s Virtue” (2001) and speaker, she has a PASSION for making #realcatholicmodesty understood. She is a licensed Hairdresser, and Make Up Pro with a degree in Natural Health who enjoys essential oils. She enjoys making people smile and sharing God’s love with anyone who will listen. After overcoming a stroke, disabilities, they lost everything in a devastating house fire that made them homeless for six months. She is determined to lead souls back to Christ by finding the #realcatholicbeauty in their lives by carrying their crosses with Joy!
©Copyright 2016  Rita Davidson & Little Flowers Family Press  All Rights Reserved.

  

Comments

4 responses to “Rita’s Movie Review – Miracles from Heaven”

  1. Debbie Avatar
    Debbie

    Thank you for the great review. Am looking forward to seeing this movie. (Surely wish True Catholic filmmakers would start producing good faithful-Catholic-based films like this).

    1. Rita Davidson Avatar
      Rita Davidson

      Hi Debbie!
      SO glad you will get out and see this. YES I sure wish more Catholic filmmakers will take up the torch – what we could do with a BIG screen showing the one TRUE FAITH eh?!

      God bless,
      Rita 🙂
      Author of the bestselling, “Immodesty, Satan’s Virtue” (2001) saved from the ashes – is RETURNING!

  2. Tonya Avatar
    Tonya

    Loved this film too. I took my children on Good Friday, which may sound strange but I have one who can’t attend church and also struggles with faith.

    We were alone in the theatre(bonus) and I felt like this movie was a gift from God just for us that day. Seeing the photo of her praying at the “foot of the tree/cross” was amazing.

    Thank you for writing about it; I needed a reminder of our day together watching it and most importantly that God is there for us.

    1. Rita Davidson Avatar
      Rita Davidson

      Thank you Tonya for your comments.
      I’m so glad you got a chance to see it as well and yes, that final scene is the most moving for all of us moms isn’t it?

      So glad you enjoyed my review too.
      God bless you!
      Rita
      Author of the bestselling, “Immodesty, Satans’ Virtue” saved from the ashes IS returning! 🙂

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