What I learnt from "The Blind Side"

Watched "The Blind Side" with hubby two nights ago. To be honest, I hardly ever keep up with movies, let alone English movies. This one caught my attention one day while browsing the internet and it came up as an advertisement somewhere.

Did a search on it and read the synopsis from IMDB. Sounded like a great movie and decided to watch it with hubby.

"The Blind Side" is a true story of Michael Oher, an African-American NFL player in the States whose background was not worth anyone's notice. Somehow he was adopted into a white family by the name of Touhy, was accepted and loved by them and was given the opportunity to realise his talent and potential.

I know nothing about NFL, so when it came to scenes where they were discussing the sport, I almost nearly had to run a dictionary, except hubby was next to me explaining.

What hit me was the start of friendship between SJ and Oher in the film. All SJ did was suggested that Oher smile a bit more and he'd not scare little children away. SJ wasn't afraid of Oher, otherwise known as 'Big Mike'. He took the first step and spoke to him with a smile.

For me, starting a conversation with someone I know is really difficult, but a lot of times, all it takes is that first step of smiling and saying, "Hello, how are you?"

Then there was mum Leigh Ann's motherly instinct that led her to take Big Mike into their house for a night out of the cold. They do not know each other, but she was willing to clothe him, give him food and talk to him. What was it about Jesus telling us to receive those who are not as well off as we are? She did it. And when I thought about that first invitation into the car, then into the house, I couldn't help but admit that I probably would not have done it. Yes, there is the element of doing good to others, of sympathy, but I also worry if my daughter would be safe with a total stranger in the house.

The Touhys aren't big strong looking people, but they didn't seem afraid, nor did they reject Big Mike. There is something about being family to those who need it that can be learnt from here.

I'm sure there were many more lessons to be learnt, but I can only remember this much for now. I'll be working on that first step, that first smile to say hello.