December Boys

Michael Noonan's classic novel, "December Boys", is brought to life in this scenic and stirring movie. It tells the story of four orphan teenagers growing up behind the closed doors of a catholic convent in outback Australia during the 1960s. As the boys watch younger kids get adopted by loving families, they begin to realize that as they get older, their turn may never come. When the convent sends the boys to visit the seaside one summer, they finally have something to look forward to. While there, the boys meet a young couple unable to have children, who would make the perfect parents. Competing to be the most adoptable, the boys severely test their friendships as deep, personal feelings of rejection explode to the surface. The bonds of friendship eventually overcome the rivalries, sealing forever the strong ties that bind the December boys as they learn the real meaning behind friendship, family and love.

Watching this movie reminded us of the great spiritual parallel that, no matter what, we are each the central focus of God's love ~ a love that invites us to claim his life-changing assurance that we are valued children of God.

Ephesians 1:3-5 (MSG) ~ "How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ."