Another Disney review
By Kristen Bourgeois
The new Disney movie “Encanto” was just released, and everyone is talking about it. The music is great, and there are a lot of great takeaways from the movie. If you have seen the movie, then please continue reading this blog. But for those who haven’t seen the movie yet, heads up, there are spoilers ahead.
The Madrigal family receives a miracle after a tragedy which results in special gifts each family member then receives. But there is trouble. The house they live in has cracks, and the main character Mirabel, who did not receive a gift, is the one who discovers it. After Mirabel’s abuela (grandmother) receives the miracle, at some point, fear sets in and distorts the gifts received by family members, and a lack of honesty sets in which cause the cracks in the literal home the family resides in.
Throughout the movie, I couldn’t help but think of Mother Teresa. She was such an advocate for the family and constantly reminded us the family is where love starts. On the wall of my home office, I have hung up a quote by Mother Teresa: “The way you help heal the world is that you start with your own family.”
Pain and fear of future pain can cause perfectionism. A lack of honesty about our struggles separates us from reality and the people around us.
The action that begins to reconcile the Madrigal family is an embrace between Mirabel and her sister, Isabella, whose gift is being perfect. How like real reconciliation! To begin to heal, you must confront perfectionism and embrace honesty.
Honesty is hard because it shows us our vulnerability.
But honesty led to reconciliation within the family, which led to compassion for each other, forgiveness, acceptance, encouragement and recognizing the worth of each individual family member based on their intrinsic value not on their gift.
Mother Teresa said it best: “It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. Bring love into your home, for this is where our love for each other must start.”
