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The biopic of proclaimed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, was recently released. As a movie lover and being fond of biopics, this wasn’t one I was going to miss. The cast and songs that make you want to dance were enough for me to break my “not going to the movies until after COVID is gone” mode. Besides enjoying the acting and singing, the movie has some timely messages for all. Here are a few that came to light for me. (Note: I’ll do my best not to spoil the movie, but there are references to certain scenes and movie moments.)

Your voice is yours to own and steward.

Your voice matters. What you have to say, to whom you have to say it to, and when you say it matters. In the movie, little and adult Aretha both displayed this reality. After a family tragedy, young Aretha did not speak for weeks. When pushed to do so by an adult family member, she resisted. We see tension in this relationship as a result of who controlled her voice and decisions throughout the movie. Fortunately, the tension does not last and the relationship dynamic shifts.

Interestingly enough, there was someone who came into her life and seemed to initiate permission for her to use her singing voice in the way that we know it. She used her voice in other ways also. She was very vocal about civil rights. Use your voice. Own your voice. Take care of your voice.

When we honor our gifts, we honor God.

We all have specific and peculiar gifts and talents that should align with our purpose. Whether you choose to embrace those gifts and talents can often determine the impact you have on the world…or your world. I encourage you to honor – “regard with great respect or high esteem” – what God entrusted you with when he created you. Cultivate your gift. Study it. Learn how to improve it. Apply it. Use it to help others. God smiles.

God has a way of getting our attention.

We all encounter roadblocks and struggles in life that we have overcome or have yet to overcome. Many of us who attended the movie did not know about some of the darkness Aretha dealt with in her life. Fortunately, she had a solid foundation that she could rely on, her faith & church background. Before making hit records like ” I Say a Little Prayer” and “Think”, Aretha Franklin sang at her father’s church.

After an extensive career and battling with some personal demons, she felt strongly that she needed to do a gospel album. It ended up being her best-selling album. What is amazing is how God’s grace will lead us right back to him, and at many times when we need it most.

Love and respect are foundational in relationships.

The dynamics of Aretha’s relationships and what is expressed in her songs revolve primarily around two things – LOVE & RESPECT. The love of God and the love of her family helped in many ways. It helped her cope as a child after a tragic loss, carried her as she transitioned into stardom, and lifted her out of that dark place she was once in. The respect she had for certain individuals was displayed in the decisions she made – even the tough ones she had to make for herself. It takes both love and respect to make healthy relationships work. Both virtues guide you, protect you, and redirect you when life demands that they do so.

Let this be a reminder to us all to recognize, prioritize, and cultivate the unique gifts within us. Somewhere somebody in the world needs what is inside of you to come out.

Reference: Honor – definition of honor by The Free Dictionary. Retrieved on August 22, 2021.