Our Fairytale: Part 3

As previously mentioned, the Disney/Pixar movie "Up" is an integral part of our story. It's this little twist that I believe shows just how funny God is.

Every year, my church, Church of the Highlands, integrates a widely popular series. Thousands of visitors darken our doorways and hundreds turn to Christ throughout the series. Basically, during the "At the Movies" series, Pastor Chris Hodges turns a secular movie into a message.

I still had not seen "Up" when it was showcased at COTH. When the movie selection was revealed, Clay reminded me that the main female character reminded him of me. In the first scene, Ellie removes her adventure hat and wiry, frizzy hair pops out. I looked at him in disbelief, thinking he was thinking of the awful odd way my naturally curly hair looks before it's straightened.

As little Ellie continued to spout off then states, "You're quiet; I like you," I begin to see the similarity. :)

*****BEWARE: SPOILERS AHEAD*****
The scene continues through the lives of the two characters. Carl and Ellie get married, buy and fix up a house, work, get pregnant and lose the baby. All the while, their focus is on a great adventure to Paradise Falls. Because of the bumps along the road of life, Carl & Ellie grow old without making the trip.
When Ellie passed away, the tears began to fall freely down my face. It's then that Clay decided to reveal why Ellie's character brought me to mind all those months ago. As he watched the beginning of Carl and Ellie's relationship, then their marriage and all the things that come with it, he realized no one could fill the Ellie role but me. He had been watching the movie with a girl he dated during our break and decided the relationship needed to end before the credit begin to roll. When I was able to regain a semblance of composure, he told me he knew the movie showing at church was God's way to revealing to him that he was right where He wanted him to be- with me.

*pause* Must. Regain. Composure.

Ok, I'm back.

As you can well imagine, I was a basketcase throughout the service. Thinking back on that day makes my heart flutter... and I chuckle every time. Clay and I fought hard for a year to make our relationship work. Over 14 months, our hearts had hardened to prevent further abuse and any trust we had was long gone. All it took for God to break through the hard exterior was a cartoon movie!

Until that moment, we hadn't had a healthy relationship, but until then, we hadn't been genuine in asking God to be a part of it. That day, we discussed where we had been and where we were going- all 3 of us.

Our past hadn't been the type of relationship I had always dreamed of and the road we traveled was FULL of bumps, but the bruises taught us so much. Because of the [many] arguments and all-out fights, we learned how to rationally discuss those things that we don't see eye to eye on. We have learned to talk things out instead of either flying off the handle or bottling things up. We have learned the requirements of a relationship and how to respect the other. Above all else, we've learned the type of relationship we want isn't possible without the Center.