4 Lessons from the Movie Frozen

On the eve of Frozen 2 releasing into theaters, I thought I’d take this opportunity to celebrate the lessons learned from the first Frozen movie.  Anna and Elsa have almost become part of our family; our 4-year old daughter adores anything Frozen and it remains her favorite movie.  We even had a Frozen Tea Party for her birthday.  So, I’ve been transported into Arendelle quite a few times and have curated this list of lessons I see playing out in both the animated and spiritual kingdoms. 

1.  Let it go

Not only is this one of the best songs to sing into your hairbrush microphone (with hand raised for dramatic effect), it’s a truth we often need to hear.  Stewing over an offense, dwelling on a decision already made, or worrying over what might happen usually places too much focus on ourselves instead of placing our trust in God.  Elsa lets go of her magical ice powers that she’s held back.  And while that’s super cool (pun intended), I believe that when we let go of our need to control, we see evidence of God’s amazing power at work within us.  So let it go, friends, let it go.

2.  We are all fixer-uppers

I love the troll scene, but I love their song even more. In broadway-style chorus, the trolls harmonize a truth central to our faith: she/he is a bit of a fixer-upper.  None of us perfect, our strengths and skills mesh with weaknesses and difficulties.  The trolls song is upbeat and fun as they rattle off Anna’s and Kristoff’s quirks and flaws.  I hear a melody of grace throughout the tune, reminding me that we are all works in progress (see Philippians 4:6).  And that’s a tune worth dancing to.

3.  We have the power to hurt and the power to bless

Elsa fears her frozen powers because she hurt her sister.  She learned, while creating an indoor playground of snow, that her amazing skills could also cause great harm.  Then she isolated herself in fear because she didn’t want to hurt anyone again.

Have you seen this scene played out in real life?  Maybe you’ve hurt someone by words or actions, then retreated.  Or maybe someone has caused you mental, physical or emotional pain.  So you shut the door to people.  This is complex, and I’m not trying to minimize anyone’s pain by using an analogy from an animated movie.  Real life-hurts are deep and painful.

Yet, I find encouragement when I look at Elsa and her struggle.  She knows she has the power to hurt, yet at the end of the movie, she discovers she also has the power to bless.  She brings blessing to the kingdom by opening the gates and creating a delightful moment of ice-skating.  She laughs joyfully when creating Olaf’s personal flurry so he can enjoy being a snowman in any season.

I believe we, too, have the power to bless others because of Christ’s power at work within us.

4.  Love Thaws

Elsa finally figures out how to end the frigid winter after Anna sacrificed her own life to save Elsa from the sword of Hans.  Love.  Love thaws a frozen heart. The warmth of love becomes the central theme of the movie, replacing the arctic landscape with sunshine and spring flowers.  And all is right in the kingdom of Arendelle.

Love is a central theme of another story I know, a story I read in scripture and live daily.

The story of God.

He sent his Son into our dark sinful world.  Jesus sacrificed his life for each man, woman, and child so that we could know the joy of his presence, live under the warmth of his undeserved grace, and share the good news of his love with others.

And in this story? Those who put their faith alone in Christ alone, well . . . we do live happily ever after. 

If you’d like to recreate your own Frozen-themed Tea Party, here’s a list of sources, some of which include affiliate links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting my site, and enjoy your Frozen celebration!

• Frozen Candle Cake Topper
• Child’s Anna Costume
• Child’s Olaf Costume
• Adult Elsa Costume
• Princess Tiaras
• Anna Doll
• Elsa Doll
• Frozen Soundtrack and/or Frozen Movie (we used the song scenes from the movie for a little princess dance party).
• Frozen Figurine set (I used these in punch cups filled with Ice Cream Rock Salt)
• Snowflake Organza Fabric (used as Tablecloth with White Plastic Tablecloth underneath)
• Frozen Party Cups
• Frozen Party Napkins
• Clear Plastic Plates
• Free Frozen Party Printables – I used these for the invitations and food labels.