Spotlight on the movie from FamilyLife > Like Arrows

  This article is written in partnership with FamilyLife for the film Like Arrows.

 “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth.” —Psalm 127:4

Like Arrows follows the journey of Charlie and Alice, who are forced to rethink their parenting strategy when conflict, rebellion and resentment overwhelm their family. The story unfolds over 50 years as the couple moves from unplanned pregnancy to parenting struggles to learning to intentionally disciple their kids using biblical principles. This is a film about the real challenges of parenting. But, you also see the power of what God can do when we follow Him.

Like Arrows is only in theaters May 1 and 3, so you’ll need to grab tickets for you and your MJ group quickly.  But I digress.  

In the film, Charlie and Alice struggle with the choices of their oldest son – but still have the power to impact the lives of their other son and two daughters who are still in the home.  This film struck me on several levels. But one scene between dad and daughter really got me. 

If you have girls, you may agree that parenting young daughters can seem easy. Us dads can play the hero simply by taking our daughter to the park, pushing her on a swing and then buying ice cream. Done. Home by dark and we’re the hero. 

But what about when your daughter stops wanting to go to the park—because she wants to go to the mall with her friends? What about when she begs to drop them off a block away from school? Then what? How do you enter into an era of parenting where you don’t feel prepared? I’m not gonna lie. I don’t feel ready for this. Maybe that’s why the film struck a chord in me.

I’m thankful the team at FamilyLife has allowed us to show this clip from Like Arrows. 

Here’s the set up: 

Kate, the oldest daughter, has snuck out of the house to go out with an older boy.  Charlie (dad) discovers the relationship when he hears a noise, walks out of the house and watches the boy push Kate out of his car.  

Powerful, huh? So how to we repair that relationship if our children don’t feel like we are there for them? If they don’t feel like we are protecting them? As fathers, are we prepared to confess to our children when we’ve fallen short? Have you ever just said, “I messed up.”?

Have you ever asked your children for forgiveness?

And can we forgive ourselves if we feel like we failed?

Parenting is a journey and there is no simple formula that makes us 100 percent qualified for the job. There is only one perfect Father—and it’s not you. Or me. We will make mistakes. That’s reality. But what do we do when we mess up?

I love how this scene demonstrates the fathers’ leadership in asking forgiveness. This is biblical fatherhood. It’s taking responsibility. It’s learning to keep short accounts. It can spark a spirit of love and reconciliation that can help course-correct the mistakes we are inevitably going to make—as husbands and as dads.

Films such as Like Arrows challenge us to be better fathers. Let’s let it inspire us to join arms with other fathers to help ease the burden and the guesswork of parenting. To encourage us that the challenges of raising a family are worth it. To help us prayerfully and intentionally take on the journey of fatherhood and forge a legacy that will last far beyond what we can even imagine. But remember, like the film shows, the results aren’t up to us. It’s up to us to be faithful.

Watch the trailer below and check out the website at Like Arrows.