I love the movie, Chasing Liberty, with Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode. Even though it’s about a decade old, the movie is a great example of making the grand gesture for the ones you love.
In Chasing Liberty, Mandy Moore plays Anna Foster, who is the First Daughter. Having a dad (played by the fabulous Mark Harmon, might I add) who is President of the United States makes it hard to have an ordinary life…and that’s all Anna wants. While in Europe with her family, Anna gets into a fight with her dad, who backs out of a promise, and ditches her Secret Service detail to attend the Love Parade in Berlin. She manages to get away on the back of Ben Calder’s motorcycle–an ordinary photographer, or so she thinks. Anna doesn’t tell Ben who she really is and enjoys her freedom through Europe while falling in love with him. Ben tells her he wants someone to make the Grand Gesture for him. Later, Anna realizes Ben isn’t who he says either and feels angry, betrayed, and heartbroken. She runs from him, only to be put in a dangerous situation. Ben rescues her from the unsafe encounter, and that’s the last time she sees him. A few months later, her heart is still broken, and she learns new information about Ben. She makes the Grand Gesture to show her love for him. The movie ends with their kiss, and my heart sighs happily.
So, what’s the big deal about making a Grand Gesture?
The reason for the Grand Gesture is to step out of your comfort zone, risking vulnerability, to show someone else how you feel. The gesture can be grand, such as a flash mob marriage proposal or something as simple as writing a letter, sharing your feelings. Jesus displayed the Grand Gesture for us when He died on the cross for our sins.
In my latest release, Lakeside Sweethearts, Agnes comes into an unexpected large amount of money. She can use it as a down payment for something she’s wanted since the beginning of the story, but instead, she donates the money for a great cause, helping Ian to realize what she sacrificed for him.
Grand Gestures can happen in everyday life, too. Recently, I received a very upsetting phone call and cried on Hubby’s shoulder about how I was feeling so frustrated about the situation. I laid out a couple of scenarios about how to fix it, each carving out a deeper pit in my stomach. He comforted me, kissed my forehead, and told me not to worry. The next day, he said he’d made a few phone calls and had a plan to take care of the problem. What I thought was my problem became our problem, and he offered a solution by making a sacrifice.
Whether you’re writing a story or living out life, think about the Grand Gestures you can write or do to show your love for someone else.
Your Turn: What Grand Gesture has someone shown for you?
Gingers219 says
Wow, Lisa, it’s almost like we coordinated our posts this month. :)
I think the support I receive from my husband in my writing adventure is to me a grand gesture. It’s expensive to buy books or go to writing conferences to learn the ever-changing craft, with little to no return until you sell multiple books.
Thanks for a great post. Your books sounds delightful and thought-provoking.
bethkvogt says
I love the point you make, Lisa: the Grand Gesture doesn’t have to be grandiose. It’s when someone understands what is weighing heavy on your heart — what will meet the spoken or unspoken need — and cares enough about you to do whatever it is because they love you.