An action with right intention isn’t always popular and takes immense courage.
This is not the first time, Emily (Carla Gugino), a nursing student from Georgia has had to rush to Rhode Island to care for her sister’s children. Her sister, Berry (Laura Dern), has gotten herself into trouble, and Emily wonders if Berry will ever learn.
While Berry is in the hospital recovering from a near overdose, Emily takes the children to visit her. Upon their arrival, Emily is met with a State Social Worker, Ruth Doyle (Kathy Baker). Ruth questions Emily about how she will take care of the children. With Emily having no bank account, no history of living in R.I., the State feels the children should be in their custody. Emily, having lived that life with her sister as a child, will have no part of it.
When the Social Worker is called away for a moment, Emily leads the children out of the hospital, tells them to quickly get into the car and begins driving. She stays on the back roads hopefully to not be noticed and comes to a road sign reading “Bethlehem”. What perfect direction, especially during the Christmas Holidays; she makes the turn.
As the rain pours, they stop at a diner to get a bite to eat. Emily is carefully counting the remaining money she has and asks the waitress if she knows of a reasonable place to stay overnight. With everything full that is reasonable, the waitress (Patty Duke) who really is an Angel in disguise, tells her of a beautiful, vacant Victorian home right in the middle of town to check out. With no options and feeling desperate, Emily stops at this home, finds a hidden key over the top of the door and they enter the home. They would only be there for one night and wouldn’t disturb a thing. This was Emily’s only hope for a roof over their heads on this dark and dreary December night.
Neighbors see the activity at the house, but Emily is thought to be the nice of the deceased owner coming to finally make her claim. As the story unfolds, there’s one reason after another that detains them from leaving this charming, welcoming little town. Kismet happenings begin; almost like a guiding, protective Angel.
With no shortage on love in our beloved Christmas movies, Emily has a developing relationship with a local Police Officer, Nathan Blair (David Conrad), who is undeniably smitten. I don’t want to forget mentioning the part of (Lynn Redgrave), who is an insightful and humorous Judge.
Like Emily, we all need an Angel at times. If you’ve ever had something wonderful happen, out of the blue, something beyond your wildest hopes, it just may have been amazing grace and favor.
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Matthew 5:10 (NIV)
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
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