Consider It All Joy

I'm a Parenthood fan.

For anyone who isn't familiar with this Thursday night show, Parenthood is the fictional TV saga of the Braverman family, a multi-generational potpourri of personalities, relationships, and challenges.

I was among the 5 million people watching as the 6th season, and the entire series, came to a close. For those fans who haven't yet seen the finale, I won't spoil the ending. But I will say this. The writers were able to conclude a long run with a positive, though slightly rose-colored, ending for each of the characters. As always, there were tears, and there were smiles.

Although it had dedicated followers, Parenthood was never a highly rated series. The reason for that is possibly the same reason that I liked it.

Why did I like the show so much?

It wasn't because they explored nearly every challenge that possibly can be faced in parenting kids including rebellion, learning challenges, bullying, unplanned pregnancy, abortion, adoption, substance abuse, and even teenage kids exploring various and sometimes destructive relationships.

It wasn't because they examined multiple scenarios that adults could encounter including job changes, financial struggles, health problems, cancer, marriage trials, single parenting, discontent, intrusive in-laws, and aging parents.

It wasn't because each character was uniquely developed to make the whole of the group universally relatable, with even birth order commonalities represented in the four adult children.

It wasn't because they led us into sheer joy at events such as the birth of a baby, young love, sibling trust, dreams come true, a touching wedding, and the unshakable support of family.

Though all of these elements made the show enjoyable, these were not the principal reasons I continued to watch. I was entertained by the drama and the uncertainty, but those ingredients were not the primary appeal for me.

The captivating component of the show was the realism.

In the desperate and difficult situations that emerged, we could relate. In the heartwarming moments of triumph, we could relate.

The raw emotion, the struggle to communicate, the confrontation, the realization and expression that life can be really hard, the achieved desires, the fulfilled dreams. Those elements of the show touched a deep human connection with adversity & accomplishment, a sense of camaraderie in grappling with and overcoming the challenges of life. The Braverman view of life was brutally honest, with no sugar coating. The most poignant moments on the show were intensified with obscure yet touching songs, some of them seemingly created for that exact moment in time.

Furthermore, the Parenthood answer to nearly every gut wrenching moment was the ever present reality of family. In that, my heart resounded with agreement.

You see, I'm also a fan of real life parenthood.

Though I have not experienced most of the actual issues on the show, I have experienced many of my own joys and struggles. There were moments while watching the TV series where I could relate. Perhaps not in the exact context they chose to portray, but in some way, I had felt the same feeling. Parenthood gave voice to experiences in my own journey of life that expose real parenthood as a curiously intense mixture of love, jubilation and pain.

Perhaps that is why the ratings were not so high and why the show periodically bordered on the brink of cancellation. Sometimes people do not want to be reminded about their own life and their own pain. Sometimes it's easier to imagine a different life, someone else's life.

There is one key difference in my own parenthood experience from that of the storybook family. When faced with difficult situations, I have a hope that endures. In the trials of life that I experience, I have a faith that anchors me. In addition to my family, I have God walking with me on my journey. With that comes a host of supportive friends and relatives who help me through the challenges.

James 1:2 says to "Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

I know that difficulties test my faith. I know that the testing of my faith produces endurance. I also realize that I have access to wisdom that doesn't come from a TV show or from the best advice columns.

I am sad to see Parenthood, the TV series, go. But the final message they left us is true. However optimistic the show's ending may have been, I do believe there are real happy endings. I believe it because I have experienced the trials. I have gone through the difficulties. I have real life gut wrenching moments of indecision, turmoil, and pain. I have also experienced true joy and true contentment. I have seen real miracles in my life. Even in the difficulties, the result was endurance. My faith has been strengthened. And most importantly, I have encountered many happy endings along the way.

Life has challenges, but life is short. Life is too short to not pursue your dreams. Life is too short to waste a single moment that presents itself. Life is too short to fail to embrace and love the family around you. Life is too short to not live in the present reality, the good and the bad.

Life is too short to not consider it all joy.