By REY FLORES
Miracles. What are miracles? I have often heard of, and better yet, experienced honest-to-goodness miracles myself. No kidding.
Miracles could be described in as many ways as they do come. God is most surprisingly unpredictable not just in the crosses we must bear, but also to the miracles He sometimes sends our way to lift those crosses.
Miracles From Heaven is the story about a little girl named Anna Beam who has a rare intestinal disease that prevents her body from pushing food through her intestines, causing her much pain and discomfort, and how her family must deal with it. The film is based on the book Miracles From Heaven: A Little Girl, Her Journey to Heaven, and Her Amazing Story of Healing.
The film starts with the voice of mom Christy Beam (played by actress Jennifer Garner) trying to define what miracles are by saying: “When I was growing up, people really didn’t talk about miracles. I’m not sure I understood what they were or if I believed in them.”
As we hear these words, we are watching an idyllic dream-like family farm scene with beautiful trees, clear skies, animals, and plenty of sunshine. The Beam family has certainly been blessed in a number of ways as they pursue their dreams in a beautiful home with two other healthy little girls.
At first the parents are frustrated at a couple of doctors who are unable, or unwilling, to correctly diagnose the girl’s actual condition, misdiagnosing it simply as lactose intolerance in one case. Christy Beam and dad Kevin Beam (played by actor Martin Henderson) will have none of it. As parents often know better than a doctor, we can better tell when something is wrong with our own children.
When the family finally learns that what little Anna suffers from is not only rare, but oftentimes incurable, they are then referred to a world-renowned specialist who is in high demand — given that he is the only doctor in the world who specializes in this disease.
After a freak accident when little Anna falls headfirst down a hollow tree, doctors determine that not only did she come out unscratched and unbruised, but also that the intestinal disorder was gone. Anna’s trip apparently didn’t just lead her to the bottom of a hollow tree but to Heaven itself.
The story shows the miracle, yes, but it also shows how prior to the miracle itself, our faith and trust in God can be tested as we find it difficult to understand why God sends us and our loved ones such heavy crosses to carry sometimes.
Another thing I enjoyed about the film was the way the family’s pastor and church community rallied around the little girl and her family. Interactions like these are important in our lives because it shows how important it is to have good Godly people around us who can offer us an ear, a shoulder, and the love we need in trying times. It also reminds us to be those pillars of faith and strength when others need our prayers and support.
Little Anna is played by young actress Kylie Rogers and she puts in a believable performance as the main character of this story. Other strong performances are put in by Eugenio Derbez, who plays Dr. Nurko, the pediatric gastroenterologist who is Anna’s doctor at Boston Children’s Hospital, and the familiar Queen Latifah, who portrays a waitress who is a new friend to the little girl and her family at the hospital.
Miracles From Heaven is in theaters now and is rated PG and recommended as a family friendly movie. You can watch the trailer online simply by searching Miracles From Heaven movie trailer.
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