This was the best movie I saw in 2013 and I saved it for the last day of the year. I thought it would just be a movie giving the background of an old Disney movie, Mary Poppins. But it was more than that. I’m not going to give it away, but I will share with you how I felt at the end of the movie – sad & happy at the same time.
If you haven’t seen the movie, don’t read the rest of this post. But I would suggest you go see it. Rent Mary Poppins first. We tried, but there was none at our local Family Video.
When we arrived at our local MJR Cinema 10 minutes before the movie started, the room was packed. We had to sit way up about 10 rows from the top. I sat next to two young teenage girls and the couple behind us was even older than us. A movie for every age.
The movie goes back and forth between the child years of P.L. Travers (author of Mary Poppins) and her negotiation with Walt Disney to produce the movie. The movie captivated me as it brought back many fond memories of watching Mary Poppins. But it was the story underneath Mary Poppins that made the end of the movie a unique experience…
.. No one moved. Some cheered at the close of the movie (I haven’t heard that at the end of a movie in a long time). But as the credits rolled, nobody left their seats. We all watched actual photos of Walt Disney, Julie Andrews, Dick VanDyke, and P.L. Travers.
I think what surprised me the most in the movie was the impact a father has on his children. I don’t want to give away the whole story, but there is strong lifelong tie between Travers and her father. That’s what made an emotional connection with me.
My dad’s been in Heaven for over 22 years. Judy’s dad took his journey this past summer. You would think I’d be ‘over’ it now. But he still has an influence on me. I’m so glad that Judy and I had good, godly dads. I will always remember my dad getting all dressed up to go to church. And I’ll always remember Judy’s dad’s prayer and the way he said ‘Amen’ at the end of grace.
I’m hoping I’ve left a godly influence on my children. Many times I have wished I could raise them again. I’m sure I’d do it better. But you only get one chance to be the dad your children need while they’re growing up.
If you have children at home, I hope you will fight the pull to do your own thing. Children are like wet cement and you have a short time to make a good, lasting impression.
If your children are grown and out of the house, you still have an influence. Remain faithful to God and His family. If you neglected this part of your life while they were growing up, get back while you still have a chance. That’s what repentance is – turning around and going in the right direction.
If you saw ‘Saving Mr. Banks’, how did you like it?