Classified: UBER CHEESY (My '7th HEaven essay)

7th Heaven
I consider “7th Heaven” as the ultimate, most powerful, most endearing and smartest creation in the field of television, and clearly, my all-time favorite among all TV series. My cousins and I used to watch 7th Heaven a lot. Right after doing our school assignments and chores, during weekends, during the Holy Week, every time there’s a marathon of 7th Heaven, you’ll find us doing nothing except eating whatever food there is and watching in front of the TV. This is the kind of show that makes us stop whatever it is that we are doing just by the mere mention of its title. 7th Heaven has influenced us, especially me, on how we view our family, how we value the people around us, and how to make the right decisions in life. Cheesy as it may sound, but yes, it does change your perspectives and priorities—the kind of show that makes you say “Wow, that’s something. I never thought of (it, him, her) that way.” What I like most about this show is that although its main theme is family, it doesn’t end there. It shows that family is the first and center of all our relationships, but it affects everything else. Add to this the perspective of a Christian family—a perspective that puts God as the root, the cause, the goal, the sole purpose, the guide, the focus of your existence as an individual, as a member of a family, of the society, of the world.
I remember the first time I saw 7th Heaven. I thought it was just one of those non-sense TV series, but when I started watching it—well, I just couldn’t stop. It keeps me waiting and wanting for the next episode (since they always have a new issue or topic, not the “to be continued” type) and every time I watch it, at the end of the show, I always have something to write about and share to my classmates. These lessons that they incorporate in the dialogues, in the scenes, in the issues in the show are what makes 7th Heaven worth the viewer’s time. The fun part about watching it with your family (and in my case, it’s just my cousins because I live with them) is that you learn from the Camdens. You learn how to love in spite of their flaws. You learn how to understand and accept your opposites in the family. You learn to appreciate your differences and make use of it to further improve your relationships. And most importantly, you learn how to communicate, and make use of the term “proper timing”.
My family is very different from that of the Camdens, but still, what 7th Heaven teaches us applies to any body. This show had influenced me to the point that I told myself that someday, when I have my own family, I would raise my kids like how Eric and Annie did with the little Camdens. My family and friends could testify that this show has caused a major change (and it was for the better) on my relationships. I learned (and I’m sure you will, too) that the most important thing to remember when it comes to your family is ‘love’. It is this four-letter word that can heal and forgive Mom or Dad or Brothers or Sisters when they’ve done you wrong. It is this word that makes Grandpa or Grandma smile at the beginning and end of the day. It will always be this word that will guide and tell you what to do, and it will always turn out to be the right thing. This word, ‘love’, is the one word—together with your family— that will allow you to stand up, move, and rise up above any challenge when the rest of the world pulls you down.

- I wrote this Feb. 9, 2009 5:30 to 5:58am for a job. Pardon me for the cheesiness… haha! They’re quite true, anyways.. =) -