I love Forrest yes I do. Yep, unconditionally too. I’ve written about him before (just a couple of times). Now Forrest was not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he knew a few things… most importantly, Forrest knew unconditional love.
God’s perfect example of unconditional love was Jesus… he came for us and lived the perfect life, dying for our sins… we can’t earn it and don’t deserve it but got it anyway. God gave us Jesus… and then they gave us Gump.
Unconditional love… loving without any agenda. That means I’m going to put you first.
Yea, I know… I just posted this about a week ago…
Love is patient and kind. It does not envy, boast, and it is not proud. It is not rude, self-seeking, nor easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…Â paraphrased out of 1 Corinthians 13.
Everybody knows that Forrest was a runner but did you know that Jenny was a runner too?
Forrest was very profound when he said “sometimes in life there just aren’t enough rocks” … at that point in the movie we see that Jenny’s past held her up from the best that God had in store for her… the unforgiveness for an abusive father… and possibly herself… or maybe even her own unrelated insecurities… (I know, Freudian developmental psychology…). Forrest told her that he loved her and assured her that he knew what love was, and her response: You don’t really want to be with me Forrest. Forrest was standing right there with unconditional love… and she passed it up!
What Jesus did when he came here to save what was broken… shattered… torn apart. Jesus’ sacrifice was the ultimate display of unconditional love… and not just for someone… but for everyone. Jenny figured this out late in her life… almost too late… that God’s love for her was real… unconditional… and that he really wanted the very best for her. God wanted her to experience this love, one that she came to know through young Forrest… and that she finally shared with our man Gump. Yep, Jenny ran too… a long way… and for a really long time… before she finally came back to Forrest… THE ONE who never did her wrong…
We’re all just assuming that Forrest swang on his porch the whole time Jenny was awry… maybe this shrimp boat captain was actually out hitting on the local oyster women and just never was able to connect with the right diva? Oooops, scratch that thought… I have no doubt that Forrest was a man of faith… ahhh yes, unconditional love. The Forrest we know and love waited… and then he waited some more. He was respectful of Jenny’s desires, of her free will… giving her the freedom of choice… the freedom she needed… Gump was just an ordinary man… with extra ordinary love.
I’m sure that Forrest had jealous thoughts too… surely he wanted to dig up some dirt on the Black Panthers and throw them under the bus after starting a fight and being kicked out of their party… but he didn’t. He was a gentleman, through and through. Forrest sucked it up and kept on moving… Forrest didn’t know self-seeking, or selfishness… he showed respect, another key of U-Love.
Doesn’t this sound like God’s free will too, when he allows us to make our own choices? I’ve written about my experience with free will and unconditional love before…
“Stupid is as stupid does?” – That’s a Gump quote… but I think not, not in this case. Sometimes it seems we get it confused… but Forrest knew God’s unconditional love and was content… no, make that overjoyed with His great love. Gump knew his greatest reward awaited him in heaven.
Forrest’s unconditional love was way beyond the feelings he had for Jenny. He routinely put others first… remember, he returned to the combat zone numerous times to retrieve the wounded, including Lieutenant Dan and his best buddy Bubba… how he mowed the grass for free… generously gave to Bubba’s mom, the church and charity.
You see, the Gumpster was a unique person in many ways, but most importantly as it relates to unconditional love… Forrest readily accepted not only Jenny but EVERYONE with open arms.
Forrest saw this… knew this… lived this.
I’m inspired!
What does unconditional love mean to you?
The idea of unconditional love always being there is powerful. I love the idea that nothing I do can make God love me more or less. Unconditional love is consistent, regardless of my situation, my attitude, my acceptance of it. It’s a humbling topic to talk about.
It is a huge topic that we probably can’t even fully comprehend… you’re right Seth, it is very consistent… everything that 1 Corinthians 13 says and then some!
Oh, this makes me want to watch the movie again. There really are a lot of life lessons to be learned from Forrest.
That movie is really deep, for sure Carol. I think the most resounding lesson from the movie for us about unconditional love is that we maybe sort of understand it but we’ll never ever be perfect, the way unconditional love is, and that God really wants this for us, irregardless of our past… that means don’t ever believe it’s just not for you, this love is available for anyone… stick close to the Lord and you’ll see 🙂