The two movies that this title is talking about are “Tender Mercies” and “Driving Miss Daisy”. In what ways are both of these movies about grace: gifts unearned by the recipient? Here is a quick summary of each movie:

 Tender Mercies: According to Google, Down-on-his-luck country singer Mac Sledge (Robert Duvall) has nowhere to turn when he wakes up in a motel, short on cash. So he takes a job from Rosa Lee (Tess Harper), the kindly widow who runs the place. Mac begins to fall for Rosa, who helps him confront his drinking, and also finds an unexpected bond with Rosa’s young son (Allan Hubbard). When the opportunity for a career comeback surfaces, Mac must choose between his new life and the life he let slip through his hands.

Driving Miss Daisy: According to Google, Daisy Werthan (Jessica Tandy), an elderly Jewish widow living in Atlanta, is determined to maintain her independence. However, when she crashes her car, her son, Boolie (Dan Aykroyd), arranges for her to have a chauffeur, an African-American driver named Hoke Colburn (Morgan Freeman). Daisy and Hoke’s relationship gets off to a rocky start, but they gradually form a close friendship over the years, one that transcends racial prejudices and social conventions.

In Tender Mercies, when Mac is given a job from Rosa, Rosa is giving Mac grace, since she has barely any money anyway. She is giving him grace by giving him a job. She also gives him grace by helping him control his drinking problem. This movie shows that grace can change lives, just like it did here.

In Driving Miss Daisy, Daisy is a ‘grumpy old person’. She thinks she does not need any help, but her friends keep giving her grace, even when she is mean to them. And in the end, she is no longer a grumpy old person. She is now a kind old lady. This movie shows that grace can turn a mean person into a kind person, given the right amount of time. In this movie, it took years!

Now, I know that these are fiction movies, and that they may not not ever happen in real life. And they may not, but grace exists in everything. Grace means giving someone something that they do not deserve. In Tender Mercies, Rosa gives Mac a job that he absolutely does not deserve. And in Driving Miss Daisy, Hoke and Daisy’s son gives Daisy grace by being kind to her, even if she is not kind in return. And in both of these movies, grace ultimately changes these people’s lives. And grace does change lives. Sometimes it’s showing grace to a stranger whom you may only see once, and sometimes it’s showing grace to a sibling you see every day. Either way, grace can change lives. And these movies (despite being fiction) are perfect examples of what grace can do to someone’s life. We are to give grace to everyone, just as Jesus died on the cross for us, even though we did not deserve it, and now He’s alive and preparing a place for those who believe in Him. Now that’s grace!