Lessons from Possum Trot Review written by the Ent. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Know Before You Watch Possum Trot
Name: Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot
Rating: PG-13
Age Suggestion: 13 and up
Running Time: 2 hrs. 15 mins.
Release Date: July 4th, 2024
Warnings: Murder and abuse, loss of family members, heavy discussion of and visuals of child abuse (emotional, physical and sexual are all discussed), suicidal ideations, religious triumphalism, foster care
**Disclaimer** We want to emphasize the importance of listening and learning from a variety of sources who are currently working to protect children, keep families together and former adoptees who generously share about their experiences. Resources are listed in this article**
Quick Possum Trot Summary
Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot follows the community of Possum Trot in East Texas. We are introduced to Donna and Reverend WC Martin as they feel called to become foster parents. After their experience, the entire community rallies behind the children in and around their community who are experiencing foster care.
Related Content: Adoptive Family Reviews the movie ‘Instant Family’!
A beautiful, fun, and impactful story
Possum Trot Review by a Foster Parent
Possum Trot has a lot to like and appreciate but as a foster parent, it left me feeling discouraged. There were several positives, it genuinely feels like a good representation of the loving community in that building. The acting is well done, which is particularly impressive due to having several child actors. Lastly, and most importantly, the message about the importance of caring for the widows, immigrants, and orphans is a Biblical command that many modern Christians tend to push to the side.
With that said, there was a lot that concerned me about this movie as a foster father. Some of the more troubling scenes involved the quick off the cuff reactions of angry people deep in grief and trauma. While it’s relatable to people experiencing those things, I don’t want it glamorized or encouraged. In many modern evangelical settings, children are to be seen and not heard. They are to obey quickly or face the consequences. And a vast majority of churches do not teach or encourage trauma informed parenting or teaching. To be fair, this movie was set over a decade ago. And thanks to the TBRI method, we know have easier access to trauma informed education. But, a firm parenting hand and the love of Jesus aren’t going to erase a child’s trauma and very well might do a lot more harm to that child.
The main moment is at the end of the film where after running away, Terri effectively baptizes herself and this changes the entire dynamic of the Martin family. It is simply a little scary to me that many will see this as the best solution to some deep set trauma. This is also after having shown therapy as not only incompetent, but even threatening. Which is absolutely unacceptable in a movie that’s encouraging people to dive into trauma. I would just encourage any foster family, or anyone who has dealt with trauma, to find the balance of professional help with their religious experience.
“Religious guilt can’t fix a child”
One of our biggest regrets as foster parents is falling for the missionary foster fairytale story. Presented as a quick rainbow testimony- like Jesus, you give up your picturesque life to save someone else from destruction and your love and the love of Jesus will redeem it all. But that is saviorism and it is a lie. Going into fostering or adopting with the mindset of you rescuing and saving the child is a recipe for disaster that sets you all up for failure and more pain. You are not Jesus.
Altogether, the message of Possum Trot is that there are kids out there who need help. This is an important message and I would encourage any person or family interested in foster care to research how they can help productively(we share a few resources at the end of this blog). You can also read more about the story of the Possum Trot in Echoes of Hope.
Continue Reading for our Lessons from Possum Trot
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Possum Trot Quotes
You know the day will come, but you never expect when it arrives.
It’s strange how He speaks without words, but still you know.
Most of what we do wouldn’t be necessary if people would help.
We can’t just look away.
Religious guilt can’t fix a broken child’s heart.
“WC, we are about kids here.” “Which ones? You can’t see the ones sitting on your door step.”
Why isn’t it his business? We worship the same Jesus
Everybody’s falling apart and I don’t know what to tell em
If we believe the Bible, then we’ve got to bear their burden.
I tried to be good, but it didn’t matter.
You’re a gift and you were only meant to be loved
The Story of Possum Trot Quotes
Lessons from Possum Trot
Lessons #1: The Importance of Community
One of the most beautiful things about this movie was the support shown within the Possum Trot community. They encouraged each other and were physically there when their neighbors needed them. The phrase “It takes a village” is very popular, but Possum Trot showed with tangible examples, what that looks like in practice.
If the people experiencing extreme poverty had the privilege of that community support, they would not have been in so much need.
Lesson #2: The Necessity to Communicate Well with Your Children
Donna and Terri were at odds throughout most of the film. Whenever there were moments where either of them would open up vulnerably, the other one would immediately shut it down. It’s a great reminder to leave space for such big feelings and emotions. And that we need to bring the calm to their chaos especially when it is not reciprocated.
Lesson #3: We are Failing Children In Need
As mentioned a few times throughout this review, this is the main focus of the entire movie. The fact that there are so many children in foster care when there are just as many churches is something that should stir something in every churched individual. Check out our section below to see what you can do to help children in foster care.
How to Help Children in the Foster Care System
The story of the community in Possum Trot shows the importance of caring for children who need help. If this story hits you, there are a few ways that you can get involved in helping children and people affected by the foster crisis.
Prevent Kids From Entering Foster Care
To paraphrase Susan, about 70% of the children experiencing foster care are there due to poverty. If you truly want to prevent several thousands of children from entering the foster system, helping and supporting people and families in poverty has to be part of the solution.
-Educate yourself about the basic issues, like this article addresses, or this one.
-Support non profits like Save the Children, local food programs, and local education or health programs.
Help Children Currently in Foster Care
There are several ways you can support children experiencing foster care.
-Becoming a foster parent
-Becoming an advocate and mentor through the CASA program.
-Treating children experiencing foster care with respect, like you would any other child. Do not ask about their trauma and pain.
Help and Support Foster Families
We actually have a full post on how you can support foster families!
Check out Angel Studios Movie About the First US Saint
Thanks for checking out our Lessons from Possum Trot. Check out these related posts…
-Angel Studios movie on the first US Saint, Cabrini
–‘Now I am Known’ interview: A story from a foster parent who experienced poverty
–The Chosen: a series about the lives of the disciples of Jesus
-Adoptive Family review off the movie Instant Family
-20 ways to help foster families- find it here.
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