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LIFE MEETS THEOLOGY:

The Waltons

by Greg Williamson (c) 2007

COPYRIGHT RELATED INFO

UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS

ARE FROM THE  New American Standard Bible.

LIFE: For my recent birthday, my wife took the hint and purchased for me the complete first season -- 24 episodes -- of The Waltons, on DVD. It ran on network television for nine years, and I have fond memories of watching it when I was growing up. But I wanted it for more than sentimental reasons; I saw it as a potential teaching tool for helping to instill some good, wholesome values in my two young sons. Sharon was concerned that, at ages five and three, they may not be able to fully appreciate it.

It turns out that everyone -- and especially the boys -- love it. (For a brief time my youngest was referring to it as "The Mountains.") Following each episode, we'll review the highlights and discuss an important lesson or two. It's great. The only problem now is limiting them to only one episode at a time.

As you probably know, The Waltons is drawn from real-life and chronicles the daily adventures of a large family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia during the Great Depression (1929-1939). They literally counted every penny and had barely enough to get by. What they had plenty of, however, was genuine, heartfelt love and respect for each other and for other people. You could write a book on what sets it apart from the average television programming today, even of the (so-called) "family friendly" variety. (Click HERE for a nice website dedicated to the show.)

As the show's creator, Earl Hamner, puts it:

 

I remember my childhood. We were in a depression, but we weren't depressed. We were poor, but nobody ever bothered to tell us that. All we knew was that we suffered an absence of money, but that didn't bother us. We were too occupied with the day to day events. To a skinny, awkward, red headed kid who secretly yearned to be a writer, and kept a journal of events, each of those days seemed filled with wonder. And as I look back they still do. (SOURCE)

THEOLOGY: I suppose what I appreciate most about The Waltons is how it exemplifies committed, sacrificial love. It's the same type of love the apostle Paul spoke of, the kind of love that:

• never gives up

• cares more for others than for self

• doesn't want what it doesn't have

• doesn't strut

• doesn't have a swelled head

• doesn't force itself on others

• isn't always "me first"

• doesn't fly off the handle

• doesn't keep score of the sins of others

• doesn't revel when others grovel

• takes pleasure in the flowering of truth

• puts up with anything

• trusts God always

• always looks for the best

• never looks back, but keeps going to the end (1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7, THE MESSAGE)