Happier moments come later in the film, but near the beginning of this incredible story, the mood is decidedly hopeless.
Toula is over 30 and, to the mortification of her parents, she is still single. While this may be somewhat of a disappointment for her, it is pure devastation for her parents. She is well aware of the unfulfilled longings of her family, and her community which are threefold: for her to marry a Greek boy, for her to produce Greek babies, and for her to feed everyone until the day she dies.
We can all relate to having feelings of disappointment. Scripture acknowledges the pain that accompanies unfilled longings.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”
Proverbs 13:12
This was true for Toula, and certainly for her parents. The problem is if Toula’s only chance at ‘true happiness’ depends upon her finding a husband and procreating – that is a goal can be blocked. It takes two to make that dream a reality.
Thankfully, Toula realizes this and begins to make plans for herself that do not necessarily involve marriage. She begins to pursue other things that depend on her and her alone. She decides to go back to school and upgrade her training. She manages to get a position with her new training at her aunt’s travel agency. She also makes changes to the way she does her hair, applies her make-up, and chooses her clothes.
These external changes really do help Toula find some happiness and satisfaction. However, if things in her internal life had not changed, she soon would have found herself emotionally right back where she started.
Fortunately, she meets Ian who gives her further validation:
- He sees her,
- He embraces her, and her culture,
- He knows she is worth it.
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