The Blind Side: Seeing God’s Love
Text by Jenny Faith
The Blind Side is based on the true rag-to-riches story of football player Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) and the woman whose love and compassion helped to transform his life. Michael was a homeless African-American teenager who suffered through a traumatic childhood of neglect and violence, whose life takes a remarkable turn after he meets Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock), a white, Christian lady. The two first encounter each other after Leigh Anne spots him on the street, clad only in his shorts and t-shirt, in the freezing winter cold; Leigh Anne invites Michael to spend the night on her couch, the first of many, and he eventually becomes a part of the family.
Michael, with no friends and so poor a student that his teachers gave up on him, had somehow tugged Leigh Anne’s heartstrings when she saw him that night. It was her compassion, and I believe favour, that led Leigh Anne to find out more about Michael and help him. Despite the vast difference in their backgrounds, Leigh Anne got to know him better and she realised that Michael had eventually taken a place in her heart as a son. Knowing that the film is based on a true story and seeing how Leigh Anne and her family were so ready to embrace Michael as a new addition to the Tuohy family – as a son and a brother – is extremely moving.
Michael faced a variety of challenges in this new environment, but with his new family’s constant support, he managed to overcome his giants. There were times when Michael made huge mistakes, doubted Leigh Anne’s love for him and even ran away. However, Leigh Anne continued to see and believe only the best in him, while never ceasing to encourage and love him. Leigh Anne’s love for Michael reminds me of God’s love: even when we make the worst kinds of mistake, He is never angry, but instead picks us up again and again, comforting and encouraging us always. If we ever run away, we can be assured that He will find us and woo us back with His unfailing love. We may fail, but God’s love never will.
It was this love that Leigh Anne and her family had for Michael that freed him to excel his studies and discover his gift in playing American football, in which he was eventually drafted to play in the National Football League (NFL), the highest level of professional American football.
Favour that Michael had found in Leigh Anne’s eyes completely changed his life. What more if we have God’s favour? God’s favour can transform our lives beyond our dreams and expectations! This favour we now have did not come cheap. It cost God His only begotten son to die for us on the cross over two thousand years ago, taking our sins and judgement, so that today we can stand before God and His beloved and most favoured sons and daughters.
Leigh Anne not only gave Michael a roof over his head, but she also gave him love, family, restoration, hope and a bright, shining future. If a mother, even a surrogate one, can give so much to her son, how much more will our heavenly Father give us? What blessings can God withhold from us when He has already given Heaven’s best, Jesus Christ, to die for us?
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
– John 3:16 (NKJV)
I’m next!
