Few movies have captured my mind like the 2005 hit Cinderella Man. The story of James Braddock, a washed up boxer who comes back to become a champion depicts triumph over odds at it’s best. Braddock battles against all sorts of odds during the 30′s, all in the pursuit of his families needs. Throughout the movie we see him work incredibly hard, ignoring injuries, hunger pains and very real odds stacked against him to win.
It’s a compelling story and I highly recommend the entire movie – but one scene has stayed with me. Mae stands by her man and while she certainly wants him to succeed, she doesn’t always understand his need to fight for their family. Her concern for James’ physical safety makes her beg him to choose anything but going back into the ring – even though he sees fighting as the only option. His manhood, the ability to provide for his family is on the line…and he makes the choice to take to the ring once again. As he sits in the locker room, Mae comes to him in this great scene.
When I see this scene, I see a great example of a woman using her words to uplift her husband. James Braddock was willing to put his life on the line for his family – what an incredible thing to know she was behind him, proud of him, believing in him.
Our words carry weight. We can use them to motivate, letting husbands know we appreciate hard work and risks taken. We can use them to encourage, letting husbands know we recognize attempts to please us and we are in their corner. We can use them to challenge each other and call out the better characteristics we see just as Mae Braddock did for James.
She didn’t want him to fight, but she realized that fight he must so she made sure he fought knowing she was behind him. Her words were what he needed.
Have you considered the words you say? Being the verbal girl I am, I’ve said a lot of words in my marriage. There are too many words I shouldn’t have said, didn’t mean or threw out recklessly. Words have power, something I am trying to always remember. I want my words to be God honoring – encouraging, motivating, healing words.
I wanna be like Mae and use my words to motivate my man, how about you?
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