belonging

Intro

This is a short assembly which requires a video clip. As the video clips are 3-4 mins, there is not much room for speaking. But we hope this assembly will prove useful in what will be quite a sensitive area for some students.

Parents

All of us have parents. Some of us live with our parents, some of us don't. Some of us have had good experiences with our families, others of us have had painful and difficult stuff happen.

Video Clip Options

Save The Last Dance. Chapter 15. Timing is 1.27.45 - 1.30.44. Don't start any earlier as there's one swear word. The clip ends very suddenly too and cuts to another scene. This is where Sara is at home with her father (who had left her as a kid). She's moved in with him in New York after her mom was killed. In this scene, Roy has painted and decorated a room for her and is trying to make things right with her. It's quite a powerful scene. It ends with Roy putting his arm on Sara's shoulder.

Or - 'Parenthood' with Steve Martin. Go to Chapter 15 on the DVD. The clip is from 1.43.53 to 1.47.10. It's the family at home talking about parenthood. It ends with the Grandma leaving the room saying, 'I'll meet you in the car.' It's more of a profound clip than an action clip.

(There are other clips from Parenthood but watch first)

Or - The Incredibles, Chapter 29. The timing is 1.33.07 - 1.37.48. This is at the end of the movie where the family work together to beat the robot.

Or - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade with Harrison Ford and 'dad', Sean Connery. This movie has a few clips that could be used too.

The Bible

There are some guidelines for living in the Bible. They're called the Old Testament. Funnily enough, these are actually really relevant to you and me today. One of the 10 Commandments is about parents and it's really hard to do, especially for some of us. In the book of Galatians it says this: (Galatians 6.2-3)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

There was a documentary on TV about 2 single moms, living in Exeter. One of the girls had a mother who was an alcoholic. Despite everything, the girl really loved her mom and did so much for her. Her life was so much richer for doing this.

If your parents have not been great, or aren't around, as Christians we believe that God loves you. Unlike our parents, he is the perfect Father. He cares, gives life and looks out for you. He has even promised never to leave us, never to forget us if we turn to him.

For some of us, respecting our parents is really tough. Some of us have had difficult things happen to us. But the thing is, that as Christians, we believe that God cares about you very much. Although life can sometimes be like a rollercoaster with its ups and downs, God cares. He wants you to do your absolute best to respect your family.

It’s also great to decide to change things if you can, to make things better. Bad things may have happened in your life and world, but these things can stop with you. Your family may be angry, but you can choose not to be angry. Your family may not care, but you can choose to be someone who does care for people and who decides that you will care if you become a parent. And remember, being a parent is really hard work, so cut your family some slack and try to do helpful stuff at home!

If you would like to talk to somebody about this, you can talk to... (yourself or your team, school counsellor, a teaching assistant, school nurse, a youth worker, teacher etc. Fill in the blank).

The End

Wait around in the hall and make yourself available if appropriate.