If you were able to read part one, you know Louise, Fran’s close Christian friend at work, just lost a new account, and it's become obvious she lost it because of her strong Christian principles. Fran had more trouble accepting this than Louise, but after talking to Jesus, she realized this was not a fight that can be undertaken with the weapons of the world. Rather, it must be fought with prayer.
Now, this Saturday morning, Fran is thinking of what special thing she can do for Louise to make up for this disappointment, and she gets an idea. She calls Louise and says, "Hey, if you’re not busy tonight, why don’t you come over. We can watch a good movie or something—the kids want to see Toy Story 2 again—and I’ll cook spaghetti. We can have our own private party, to celebrate the victory that God has given you and the good he's going to bring out of this bad situation!"
"Hey, Fran," Louise says, "you're so kind to think of that, but did you forget? We promised Claire and Maritza we'd have dinner with them and catch a movie.”
"Oh, right," Fran says, "I did forget. Bummer! I better make sure Mom can watch the kids tonight. Thanks for reminding me."
Louise says, "Well, Claire and Maritza are new at church, and we need to get to know them better."
So, Fran gets busy with all her Saturday chores and errands before it's time to go out. They meet Claire and Maritza at a nice little Italian restaurant and enjoy some good pasta.
"Hey, what movie do you want to see?" Louise asks. They discuss two or three and Claire suggests one that is rated R.
“You know,” Fran says, “I just have a rule for myself that I don’t see R rated movies. But I know there is one rated PG-13 at the Plaza that sounds kinda cute. That okay with you guys?”
Everyone agrees it sounds okay. Claire says, “You mean, you never go to an R rated movie? But some of them are really good.”
“Well, the acting may be good and things like that, but I just don’t want to fill up my mind with scenes of violence or sex or inappropriate language or lifestyles. You know, what you see with your eyes has a stronger impact on you than anything else,” Fran responds.
It’s obvious this is a whole new thought for Claire, and they talk about it a bit more. Louise joins in to say she has learned to be very selective about the movies she watches at home, in the theater, Netflix—whatever. “I’ve discovered once I see those images, they are very difficult to get out of my head. In fact, when they started invading my prayer time, that’s when I knew I had to be more selective in what I watched.”
As they wait in line for tickets, Louise says to Fran on the side, "I wonder about this movie, don't you, Louise? What if it's no good?"
"We'll leave," Fran says quietly.
"You mean, just leave Claire and Maritza?" Louise says, somewhat concerned.
"We don't watch junk, right, Louise," Fran says as they go into the theater. They get settled into their seats with their popcorn, looking forward to a lighthearted funny movie.
About ten minutes into the movie, Fran begins to feel nervous. This is not the wholesome movie it is advertised to be. The lead couple are not married, living together, as though there’s nothing wrong with it. And the language is not all that wholesome, either. She can tell Louise is also not comfortable with it.
After a few more minutes, Louise whispers in her ear, "We can't sit through this movie, Fran. This is trash. I think we have to leave, don’t you?"
"I agree it's a rotten movie," she whispers back, "but I don’t want to embarrass Claire and Maritza."
"I'll take care of that, Fran, don't worry," she says, and with that she whispers something to Claire then motions to Fran to head out of the theater.
Now, this Saturday morning, Fran is thinking of what special thing she can do for Louise to make up for this disappointment, and she gets an idea. She calls Louise and says, "Hey, if you’re not busy tonight, why don’t you come over. We can watch a good movie or something—the kids want to see Toy Story 2 again—and I’ll cook spaghetti. We can have our own private party, to celebrate the victory that God has given you and the good he's going to bring out of this bad situation!"
"Hey, Fran," Louise says, "you're so kind to think of that, but did you forget? We promised Claire and Maritza we'd have dinner with them and catch a movie.”
"Oh, right," Fran says, "I did forget. Bummer! I better make sure Mom can watch the kids tonight. Thanks for reminding me."
Louise says, "Well, Claire and Maritza are new at church, and we need to get to know them better."
So, Fran gets busy with all her Saturday chores and errands before it's time to go out. They meet Claire and Maritza at a nice little Italian restaurant and enjoy some good pasta.
"Hey, what movie do you want to see?" Louise asks. They discuss two or three and Claire suggests one that is rated R.
“You know,” Fran says, “I just have a rule for myself that I don’t see R rated movies. But I know there is one rated PG-13 at the Plaza that sounds kinda cute. That okay with you guys?”
Everyone agrees it sounds okay. Claire says, “You mean, you never go to an R rated movie? But some of them are really good.”
“Well, the acting may be good and things like that, but I just don’t want to fill up my mind with scenes of violence or sex or inappropriate language or lifestyles. You know, what you see with your eyes has a stronger impact on you than anything else,” Fran responds.
It’s obvious this is a whole new thought for Claire, and they talk about it a bit more. Louise joins in to say she has learned to be very selective about the movies she watches at home, in the theater, Netflix—whatever. “I’ve discovered once I see those images, they are very difficult to get out of my head. In fact, when they started invading my prayer time, that’s when I knew I had to be more selective in what I watched.”
As they wait in line for tickets, Louise says to Fran on the side, "I wonder about this movie, don't you, Louise? What if it's no good?"
"We'll leave," Fran says quietly.
"You mean, just leave Claire and Maritza?" Louise says, somewhat concerned.
"We don't watch junk, right, Louise," Fran says as they go into the theater. They get settled into their seats with their popcorn, looking forward to a lighthearted funny movie.
About ten minutes into the movie, Fran begins to feel nervous. This is not the wholesome movie it is advertised to be. The lead couple are not married, living together, as though there’s nothing wrong with it. And the language is not all that wholesome, either. She can tell Louise is also not comfortable with it.
After a few more minutes, Louise whispers in her ear, "We can't sit through this movie, Fran. This is trash. I think we have to leave, don’t you?"
"I agree it's a rotten movie," she whispers back, "but I don’t want to embarrass Claire and Maritza."
"I'll take care of that, Fran, don't worry," she says, and with that she whispers something to Claire then motions to Fran to head out of the theater.