The King's Speech

I took the wife to The King's Speech last night. The acting was superb and the movie was a delight to watch, but the aspect of the movie that most struck me was the important role of the king's wife, Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon (the Queen Mother in modern parlance).

Today, in a world where wives are picked for a variety of reasons (how good they look in a bikini, how much "fun" they are, earning potential) it is King George VI's wife who underpins the entire film by her spousal role, firmly standing with her husband and encouraging him to live up to his potential. None of his laudable actions found in the movie make any sense or prove possible without this underlying devotion of a wife for her husband.

Movies (much less television) make little room for this sort of relationship. The idea of the wife who not only stands by her husband through thick and thin, but also champions him with devotion and a mature affection is lost on the screenwriters of today. People are defined by their jobs, their dreams, their joys, but not by the way the treat their spouses or how they are treated by them. When job stresses get in the way "tough choices" need to be made that often see the marriage as a personal choice much like one would choose to go to the gym. Certainly the gym is important for one's health, but if an important case needs litigating... well this is my job we're talking about here. People are said to "drift apart" as if their moorings had come loose and they forgot to equip their ships with paddles.

All of this bunk stands in stark contrast to the vital and irreplaceable nature of a strong marriage. "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (Mark 10:9)," and yet not only do we fail to defend what He hath wrought, but we fail to acknowledge that He united us together at all.

Bless this marriage, and grant to these Thy servants, ___ and ___, a peaceful life, length of days, chastity, mutual love in the bond of peace, long‑lived offspring, gratitude from their children. a crown of glory that does not fade away. Graciously grant that they may see their children’s children. Preserve their bed unassailed, and give them of the dew of heaven from on high, and of the fatness of the earth. Fill their houses with wheat, wine and oil and with every good thing, so that they may give in turn to those in need; and grant also to those here present with them all their petitions which are for their salvation.

Nowhere does it say anything about cable packages, or "personal fulfillment" in one's job, or "having space" to fill one's day up with hobbies (even productive activities like book clubs or mothers' groups). We are called to theosis. We are called to point ourselves toward God, to understand goodness to be those things pleasing to Him, and to act accordingly. That is what our time here is about and it is the role of the spouse to help you work out your salvation. Moreover it is through this process that we serve as examples to our children on its importance.

I encourage people to go see this movie (or at least rent it when possible) and to see how the king is strengthened by his wife's ministrations and steadfast support. I also recommend it because, apart from this wonderful message, it's a great movie in its own right; full of comedy, witty banter, period costumes, and monarchical splendor.