The Breadwinner, in theatres now, is a comedy written by and starring stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze.

Nate Wilcox (Bargatze) is a husband and father of three young daughters. He is the breadwinner in his family while his wife, Katie (Mandy Moore, This Is Us), stays at home to care for their children. When Katie appears on the television show Shark Tank, the investors love her product and agree to invest.

Nate and Katie switch places. She becomes the provider and Nate’s new role is to tend to the children and their home.

This transition is far from seamless. Nate struggles to remember his daughters’ schedules, while refereeing their disagreements and attempting to keep up with the grocery shopping, the laundry and the cooking. How did his wife make this look so easy?

Nate can’t even get it together enough to remember which day the trash gets picked up. His house and his family descend into chaos—and he knows it’s his fault.

Will Nate ever find his footing as a stay-at-home dad?

Keeping It Clean

Nate Bargatze is known for his clean comedy. He grew up in a Christian home with very protective parents. (Read more about his family and his faith here.)

“Growing up, my parents didn’t let me watch a lot of stuff,” he said in a recent interview, “so everything I write is for Little Me. I want to make sure everyone can be in the room when I’m speaking.”

Nate’s comedy centres on telling stories about everyday life. Attending career day at his daughter’s school. Arguing with his wife over chocolate milk. Going to the doctor after the age of 40.

Cheerful Challenge

Everyday life can feel mundane.

Working, caring for our families, maintaining our homes—it can all feel like every day is much the same. There’s not always a lot to laugh about.

But what happens when life throws us a curveball? An unexpected health problem. The loss of a loved one. A relationship issue we didn’t see coming.

Sooner or later, something like this will happen to all of us. How we respond to it matters almost as much as the event itself. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Laughter is good for us—not just emotionally, but physically, too.

But how do we remain cheerful when life is challenging? How do we feel safe when life can be so uncertain? Proverbs 31 describes a wife of noble character. It says she works hard and cares for her family. Verse 25 says, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” 

Heavenly Breadwinner

How are we to “laugh at the days to come” when we can’t see the future?

The only way is to put our hope and trust in our all-knowing God. He knows everything we will face in this life, and He promises to walk through it with us. Even more than that, He offers us an eternity in heaven with Him. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die so that our sins can be forgiven, and all we have to do is believe in Him. It’s a free gift and we only have to accept it.

In John 6:35, Jesus refers to Himself as “the bread of life.” In biblical times, bread was the most important food. It was essential to life. Jesus is essential to our lives today. He offers us love and forgiveness, and He is the only path to eternal life in heaven.

God gives us everything we need. He’s the ultimate provider. Our heavenly breadwinner.

Diane Stark is a wife, mother of five and freelance writer from rural Indiana. She loves to write about the important things in life: her family and her faith.

Photos: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment

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