I’ve been meaning to watch this movie for years and finally got around to it this week. You can see it in Amazon prime video or probably find it at your local public library like I did.

I’ve been meaning to watch this movie for years and finally got around to it this week. You can rent it online or probably find it at your local public library.

It’s a great “family togetherness” movie. After all, it’s from the Hallmark Channel. Being extremely loosely based on the short story of the same name by Louisa May Alcott, it takes place in the 1800s. I love to read that short story every year to my kiddos in the form of the picture book as shown below. The only thing in common, however, between the movie and the short story is the title and the name of some of the characters. In the short story, which the picture book below contains, the children of a family unite to put on a grand Thanksgiving dinner while the parents are called away. The whole story takes place in a day.

In the movie, a widowed woman finds herself estranged from her mother. Forces bring the two together, early in the movie, after they’ve been apart for years. The rest of the movie takes place over weeks. It’s all about how mother and daughter navigate their strained relationship after even more emotional battles and then illness, in order to have a happy Thanksgiving dinner together. I give it five out of five stars. It’s sweet and charming, perfect for family viewing.

Here are some discussion questions:

When is it OK for a grandchild to go behind a parent’s back and ask a grandparent for help?

Is it OK for a grandparent to give gifts to grandchildren without consulting the parents?

Is it possible to give too many gifts to family members?

How does one heal from broken family relationships?

What does one do when family secrets are spilled out?

What principles does this movie show?

Do you see any of these principles in your life?

“Life purposes are greater than our imagination.” — one of the great quotes from the movie.