The Movie:
Mona Lisa Smile is a movie that tells the story of Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts), a new young art history professor at Wellesley College, an all-female campus with a prestigious reputation for academic excellence. Unfortunately for free-minded Berkeley grad Watson, her East Coast teaching stint comes during a less-progressive time that finds most of her students -- among them Betty Warren (Kirsten Dunst), Joan Brandwyn (Julia Stiles), and Giselle Levy (Maggie Gyllenhaal) -- more interested in nabbing a good husband than achieving scholastic and intellectual growth. Watson challenges her students and the Wellesley faculty to think outside of the current mores of the community and redefine what it means to be a success; meanwhile, she tries to come to terms with her own heart's desires.
In this movie, Ms. Watson view a woman on a free world who can do what she can do, free and released to herself.
The Reaction:
The question that rose up in me in this movie is, what are woman for? Are they destined to be housewives? Is this her role in human life? To take care of the house, husband and children for the rest of her life? Or she is a God-given creature who has more to life than motherhood.
I can personally see around me women with careers: teachers, managers, chefs, musicians, potters, politicians, bakers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, receptionists, and many more... even in jobs that are considered manly like being police! We see women in every corners of the world.
Are women in jobs like Ms. Watson is suggesting is the movie effective? Yes indeed! Some research even said that in some careers they are more efficient than men! Yes there are so much more to women that washing the dishes, doing the laundry, cooking, gardening, and taking care of the family. She has not just hands, and skills, she also has a heart and passion, wit and brilliance to create a beautiful world where she is at. She has views that are life-changing, ideas that are creative and life-giving, she has the heart for people and the hands that care. It is not a question for me that women CAN be good help and achievers for world change.
But what is the risk for this? This can also mean children that will grow up without moms when she is working. Children that will not be supervised what is right and wrong in life. What is the proper values and significance in life. Many of our children in this country are developing to be less that what they should be - having the right manners and good conduct with talents, good culture and beliefs because most of our moms and dads are abroad working. They are left with a relative that does not first hand take care the same heart as the parents will. This is what I am afraid about when Ms. Watson’s views are considered. I can’t not imagine a world hundred years from now without the first hand love and care of moms at home.
My mom is a perfect mom for me. She is a smart woman, creative, a manager and administrator, she can see stuff hat are so out of line and make it useful, she can teach like I've never seen anyone teach, in short, she can be so helpful and successful when launched out to the world.
My Mama
Looking at who I am now, I can give all the credit to a mom that stays at home. She is amazing. She has wit and grace to have a job but she poured this all out to us. We grew up to be good people with the heart as well not just the brains and nice outlook in life, faith above all.
So am i saying that Ms. Watson’s views in the movie are irrelevant? NO. But i am saying that all should be made at the right time and the right place.
I am more prone to moms at home NOT because they are meant for that because they can’t do anything more that household chores or because they are imprisoned to a life of being a mom and wife when there is so much in the world. But because God designed mom’s perfectness to plant a seed to future generations. Generations that will create a changed world. That management, wit, creativity inside her all poured out to the lives of her children and husband that she alone is blessed to have the grace to do it. This world needs moms that selfishly change this world through pouring to one life at a time. Money can not solve everything but love and care just like of that in a woman's heart. Even though the mom did not work as manager, teachers, police outside of the house, but she is one as she seeds those seed grew up to be one in the future. For me Ms. Watson’s views of a woman are SELFISH and crucial.
A real woman knows her identity and security in who she is in the Lord and in big or small things a brilliant being that blooms and creates a better world starting in her home. Her worth starts within her heart.
I am now in my doctorate degree, ministering to poor communities like Agdao, helping people in their poverty, sickness and hopelessness, giving them the Light, discipling the Filipino youth for a real revolution, writing 2 books for a transformed Philippines, pouring to my family as well... i even plan to be the President of the Philippines one day.
Yes, i am a woman with so much potential and worth, dreams and giftings. But i find my worth in all that smart-talented-pretty-creative-manager-etc-etc personality I am to one day love honor my husband, love my kids, and serve my family with my all. This could mean all the smart-talented-pretty-creative-manager-etc-etc personality I am doing home school, making breakfast, laundry, etc on a daily basis.
With the man (AJ) i plan to say "I DO"
Will i be able to achieve my dreams and visions in this? Yes, I will one life at a time starting with my own family.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
