The day of my 40th birthday turned into the weekend of my birthday. My husband had planned a great big surprise for me and I wasn’t expecting it at all. I have family all over the U.S. and he somehow orchestrated them all to come out for the weekend to surprise me. It was unbelievable.

We had a great time just enjoying the nieces and nephews who I hadn’t seen since last summer in Hawaii. I love those kids so much. They just bring light into my life. My family is so close that their kids are loved just as my own. It is also my brothers birthday. We were born on the same day just 10 years apart. So the mile stone wasn’t just mine, it was his too. He kept insisting that the trip they took was all about me, but I couldn’t help sharing it with him. It’s been 30 years of sharing birthdays with this man that it seems weird to have it all to myself. of course, I had to share it.

Something about having my family around just makes me feel so lucky and blessed. They are unique in everyway. I will always be thankful to my husband for this wonderful surprise. When we get together though, there’s only so much that a group of 17-18 people can do together. We can go hiking, or swimming, or go to the movies. Considering that March in Colorado is sometimes still winter, we went to the movies. Some of us saw “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen ( my nieces and my sisters), and some of us saw “Cody Banks” (my dad and my other sister and her boys), and the rest of us saw “The Passion of the Christ”.

I had wanted to see this movie with my husband and our son. So I made sure that my son had no choice but to go. His cousin, Jake, who is the same age went with us and they sat together in the packed theatre. My brother Mike and my brother David, who just came back from Iraq thank you Lord, sat together also. My husband and I were together with hands held for the entire movie. My husband, Tom had bought me a large Coke and some Red Vines, my usual at-the-movies food. I put the drink in the holder on the arm rest and held the licorice in my lap until the movie started.

I didn’t know quite what to expect. I had heard so much about this movie and read so many reviews but I still felt apprehensive about how I was going to react. The lights went down and the scene from the Garden of Gethsemane came on. There were subtitles but I found that I really didn’t need them too often. I sat riveted. I stared at the screen and I don’t think I even blinked. Scene after scene appeared before my eyes. My chest swelled with emotion and tears found their way down my face. A woman in the back had a seizure and they stopped the movie to help her. I took this opportunity to breathe finally. When the movie came back on I again was riveted. I stole a glance over to where my son and my nephew sat. My son was sitting forward with his face in his hands. I couldn’t tell if he was crying. The scene with Jesus’ mother running to comfort her son came on and I couldn’t see the movie because of the tears. I felt that feeling in my own life and I could feel her pain. My husband clutched my hand so tightly at one point that my fingers went numb but still I didn’t move.

Then came the crucifixion itself. If I hadn’t been horrified enough by the beatings and the humiliation my Lord took for me, this was the topper. I flinched with every nail. I jumped when they turned him over. I felt redeemed by the thief on the cross and the clear message of salvation. When Christ uttered the words “It Is Accomplished” I bowed my head and let the tears flow. Never before had my salvation been so evident in my life. Never before had I experienced what Christ did for me so clearly. I could never describe what those seconds felt like to me. I felt as if I had been born anew all over again. When the lights came on, I felt like dancing and singing the praises of God. I was smiling and felt joyful. I still do.

I have purposely left out details of the movie itself because I think the reaction to it is what is most important and different for everyone. My mother, Barbara Sheahan, said, “I was at church the Sunday after I saw the movie and had this overwhelming sense of sorrow during a song we were singing. At the mention of the cross I felt my chest get tight and the same feeling all over again. I couldn’t hold my tears back and I was thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice all over again.. I don’t think it will ever be the same again.” My brother Mike Sheahan said, “I felt angry at one point because of what he went through. I guess I just can’t believe what he did in my place for the forgiveness of my sins. I’m not worth it.” After the weekend was all over and everyone had left, my son came to me and started asking questions. We must have sat there for an hour discussing all the little nuances of the film. I think he came away with a clearer understanding of the sacrifice Christ made for him and I think it touched his heart deeply.

Movies like “The Passion of the Christ” can do two things they can either beg to be seen over and over or they can inspire one to see things more clearly. I think in my case it has done both. I can’t wait to buy it so I can watch it over and over again, but more importantly it has served to open a door to my heart and reveal truth to me in such a way that I can’t ignore it nor can I forget it. If I wasn’t committed to Christ before, I am now and more profoundly than ever. I’ll probably drive my family completely nuts now.

You can buy this life changing movie here: