Loving through ‘The For Worse’ - How Unsung Heroes teaches us to really love others

In a world where love in the movies looks like grand gestures, someone showing up at your door Love Actually-style, throwing rocks at your window, or taking a suicide pill when you see your soulmate dead, it can be misleading to see that real love isn’t as loud, blatant or even romantic as that. Rarely do we see the challenges or the sacrifices of love, but in one movie love in all its rare forms comes through in Unsung Heroes. This love we see in the movie isn’t sickeningly romantic that it makes you feel alone, it's the kind of love that takes on all types..the love of a wife, the love for God and the love for a family.Has our generation missed the point of what love actually can do? Let's take a look at 5 examples of love in the movie ‘Unsung Heroes’ and how it can teach us to love better.

SPOILERS AHEAD

This movie about Australian economic migrants begins with David Smallbone and his family living the idealistic life. David is thriving in a job that he is passionate about and the family are well provided for, until the economic downturn that causes them to flee to the United States looking to earn a living.

#5 The relentless pursuit of their dream 

David Smallbone knew who he was from the get-go. I found myself wanting to yell at him at times saying “Why wont you go work at a grocery store or literally anywhere?” He knew he had a responsibility to his family and he wasn’t oblivious to it, however he knew what he was good at and where his potential lay. He never gave up, no matter how hard the road was, how difficult it was to find jobs, he never took his eye off the prize. 

In today’s day and age, working in a job that you actually love and are good at almost seems a luxury. Most of us aren’t even in jobs remotely linked to what we studied. It leaves me wondering, has our generation learnt to squash our passions for the sake of money? Has passion become a luxury we cannot afford? Are dreams, God-given dreams taken for granted because we need to earn our bread and butter?Love Lesson #5: In a world of instant gratification, we need to learn to have the grit, persistence and determination to follow through and pursue the gifts God has given us. 

#4 The Display of Love through Obedience 

Growing up, I remember my parents telling me “the greatest act of love is obedience without questioning, especially when you don’t understand why.” The Smallbone family, despite their struggles, are never shown questioning or whining about their circumstances. At the heart of this is the attitude of wife and mother Helen Smallbone.

As much as she ached and grieved for her family, she put on a smile on her face and turned every situation into an adventure. She took every opportunity to bring in lessons on life, resilience and trust in God and she found ways to make hard situations lighter. If I were in her place, I would have said to my husband “let’s go home.” Helen instead silenced the voices that were calling her home, told herself and her family that there was no looking back and decided in her heart to be obedient to God, no matter the cost. Our generation (myself included) tends to question God and say “Why me?” or “I obeyed you, so why is nothing going in my favour?” Truth is, not all obedience leads to tangible rewards, and especially not right away; but all obedience leads to growth, fruit and spiritual maturity.

Love Lesson #4: Obedience to God with a cheerful heart (despite suffering) is not about the reward, but rather our display of love and trust in him. 

#3 Loving through ‘The For Worse’ 

When we stand up on our wedding day, and vow to love for better or for worse, I don’t know how many of us understand the weight or gravity of the latter. Unconditionally loving your spouse at their lowest, darkest, most depressed, most unlovable point in their lives is not easy. What’s even less talked about is how children are called to love their parents when they are at their weakest. 

As David battled through his rock bottom, it was the love from his family, the affirmations of his wife who chose to speak life and the support of his children that pulled him through. As a mom, I can only hope to one day teach my kids that even though we parents are not perfect, they are still called to love, respect and honor through it all. As a wife, I watched in amazement of how Helen continued to believe in her husband even when there was nothing tangible for her to see. She continued to tenderly encourage, hope and pray for him while patiently waiting for him to go through his own process. 

Love Lesson #3: As a family, when one member is at their ‘rock bottom’, we all need to rally around them with love, respect, honor, affirmation and encouragement; children included.  

#2 The Love for Prayer

Another theme that isn’t often depicted in mainstream media is the love for prayer. The Smallbone family often reminded me of Moses. Moses is the type of Bible character I like to call ‘shameless’ or as many Indians would call it ‘bindaas’. For every small thing he would go to God and say “now what do I do”, “if you don’t go with me, I am not leaving.” Almost like a little child, he kept going to God, however big or small the issue. Fast forward to this family, sitting around putting everything possible on their prayer list right from “make things cheaper” to their Christmas wish lists and even a car. The incredible thing is, that while they waited, you never see them grumble or whine. They continue to work hard and rely on God’s goodness. They knew who their provider was - not their Earthly father, but their Heavenly one. 

Love Lesson #2: When it comes to God, we are called to be like children, and have child-like faith. If we really implement this rather than allowing our intellect and anxieties to creep in, our love for prayer is bound to grow as it cultivates a beautifully intimate and free relationship with our Heavenly father.

#1 The Power of the Love of Family

The overarching and most evident theme of love is the love that the family display for each other. You see them rally around each member when help is needed, you see the siblings looking out for each other, you watch a daughter step in when she knows her mother is too overstimulated to handle the situation in a calm manner and you see the love of a wife who refuses to give up on her husband. The movie shows how when the entire family rallies together, there is only one result: to come through the storm. It is this same sacrificial love that eventually led to the family’s success that birthed For King and Country. The parents were honest and vulnerable with their kids, and that gave the kids opportunity to step up and pitch in. They did this with honor, respect and cheerfully. This to me was the most beautiful display of love.

Love Lesson #1: When one member of the family is struggling it is everyone’s responsibility to rally around them, step up and pitch in. As a family, we support and cover one another’s weakness so that together we become irrefutable strength.

The fact that this is a true story brings so much awe to me. I hope that during my tenure as a wife and mother, I too can cultivate a culture of sacrifice, love and faith.

What are your thoughts on the movie? Let us know in the comments