The Big Giant Movie

Lil M and I went to see The Blind Side yesterday, at the movie theatre. She called it the Big Giant Movie. Overall, she did fantastic sitting through the whole thing (except fidgety for about the last 10-20 minutes)...and she didn't care for it being so LOUD. (covered her ears more than once)

The movie was great. It is about Michael Oher (an NFL football player for Baltimore) and his move into a white family during his teen years. It was inspiring, yes. It was inspiring because of his attitude and of his new family and their attitude, too. Very interesting, actually. So many people say that white families shouldn't adopt black children. And, while, I understand the argument, I do believe that it is more a case by case situation rather than a blanket one. In this case, it didn't seem to matter what "color" either Michael or his family were. It seemed more a situation of the right place, right time... to help them all learn and help him to succeed. And, by that, I don't mean NFL. I just mean, in general.

I can't wait to read the book, and have put it on my wish list (from Sis) for Christmas. The movie made me cry, of course. And you know the end when you go in... he's a success story (from an NFL perspective), of course. But he seems to be a genuinely beautiful person. I like that.

Tiny spoiler, but not really ... One thing I thought was cute was when they asked if Michael would like to join their family, and he said he thought he already had. :) (of course, i am not sure if they officially adopted him or not, or just became his legal guardians... they didn't use the word adoption. I need to look that up). Oh, and when he called LeeAnn... Mama. Awwww. And how she sought out his Mom. Really, the whole dang movie... great. I really hope everyone sees it!! :)

I just might have to start watching football. On a 'big giant' tv, just for Lil M... but with the volume turned down!! :) Of course, that'd require buying a big giant tv...

Peace.

Poverty and Scripture

Your challenge is to pick one verse or passage that has touched you and changed your thoughts on poverty and how the Lord might see it and respond and blog about it!

Well, one of my favorite verses is Romans 12:12
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer."

I don't feel like I have a very good answer for this topic. But here goes. I would imagine that everyone thinks that poverty sucks. And since I'm not God... and I can't affect all people, I do pray for the suffering and for those who live in poverty.

I am thankful for what I *do* have, and I try to give as much as I can. I feel like that's what I can do, because I believe in the power of prayer, and in my relationship with God, which gives me hope and patience (a relative term, of course) during my own suffering and for the suffering of others. Does it change things? I'm not sure, because there always seems to be poverty on some level. But I hope when I get to Heaven I will see that it did!

I wish I had a better answer. I think that helping those in need starts at home (in our own families, churches, communities), but that we need to think globally, too.