By Jeanni Ritchie
Fresh off the unexpected massive success of the independently produced Karen Kingsbury film Someone Like You comes another hugely successful faith-based film. Unsung Hero climbed to #2 at the box office in its opening weekend.
America is craving hope and the changing media landscape shows that we are grabbing it with both hands. Faith-based films shoot to the top of charts. Secular magazines like First for Women have increased stories and sections on faith and inspiration. Television shows like The Chosen are must-see tv. It is God’s own Reclaim the Land tour.
Based on the real life story of the Smallbone family, Unsung Hero tells the origin story of Christian solo artist Rebecca St. James and her brothers Luke and Joel of the Christian band for King & Country. While they are the onstage faces we’ve grown to know and love, the movie introduces us to the rest of the family as well. The behind-the-scenes family members (dad David, brothers Daniel, Ben, Josh, and baby sister Libby) are as much a part of this musical success as Rebecca, Joel, and Luke.
I’d venture to say the actual hero in the movie though is Helen Smallbone, the embodiment of a Proverbs 31 woman. The Smallbone matriarch exemplifies the power of a praying woman and shows a dedication and commitment to her family far beyond most. I will forever be inspired by this mother’s unwavering love for her family and the Lord.
One of my favorite parts of the movie was seeing the family’s PLEASE and THANK YOU wall. Rooted in Scripture, the family would write their needs on index cards under the “please” column. We are told to make our requests known to the Lord in Philippians 4:6.
As the prayers were answered the family members would move the requests to the “thank you” column. Growing up in the South it was instilled in me to acknowledge every gift. Yet so often we tend to forget the One who blesses us the most. The Smallbone family never lost sight of the importance mentioned in many thankfulness verses, including Psalm 100:4. I immediately came home and created my own PLEASE and THANK YOU wall.
The story of the Smallbone family, their challenges and victories, is no different than most. David Smallbone faced the adversity many of us do as well. Uncertainty, success, fear, faith, depression, humiliation, forgiveness, sorrow, redemption…life is a journey of mountains and valleys for everyone. It is not what happens in life that defines us but how we handle it. Even when you fail, and we all fall short at times, it’s important to remember that there’s always hope in Christ.
As Joel and Luke sing in for King and Country’s It’s Not Over Yet, hope is rising..
never give in, never give up, it’s not over
yet…
As a nation, we are in our redemption season. Walk in the victory that has been so freely given.
Check out the inspirational movie Unsung Hero in theaters near you!
Jeanni Ritchie is a faith and mental health positivity journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com. Follow her on Facebook or TikTik @jeanniritchie.
