Only my second all-time favorite movie.
And a Christmas Classic.
And a tradition in my life for as long as I can remember. It’s a Wonderful Life.
When I still lived at home with my parents, I had it on VHS. Shocking I know. I never bought it on dvd for some reason. When it came on tv this year I set the DVR to record because this was going to be the year I introduced it to my daughter. I told her once you’re a few minutes into it, you don’t even notice it’s in black and white. Sure I know they made it into color, but it’s not the same. It’s better in black and white in my opinion.
We watched it over a few days’ time due to practices and pesky things like school for her and work for me. We finished it up last night and at the end I asked her what did she get out of the movie? Her response… that our lives impact so many others so we should be grateful for what we have. Yep that about explains it!
But as an adult who has seen the movie well over 100 times who now watches it with a spiritual lens so to speak, I see so much more in the movie and I felt it would be nice to share these thoughts.
For starters, I was bawling my eyes out in the first moments after the opening credits. I knew the people of Bedford Falls were praying to God before, but it hit me for real this time, like oh my gosh, all of these people praying to God to help George! It made my heart so full!!! And it came out of my eyes in the form of tears! God is so good!!!
I cried so much this time watching because I really saw myself in George Bailey. George wanted so much for himself. He had such big dreams and goals and aspirations and as his dreams were being crushed I realized that that is exactly how I feel in my own life. And I remind myself that God’s plans for my life are way bigger than I can even begin to imagine and it hurts when you don’t get some of your hearts desires, but when you look back you realize that God knew exactly what He was doing!
It’s so easy to get caught up in the mundane aspects of life, especially if life has flipped on you. When you’re down to absolutely nothing… and you feel like you have nothing left…my God!!! But you do!!! That’s nothing but the enemy convincing you to throw it all away. Of course! Because then he wins. But you, just like me, and George Bailey we are all overcomers!! And when George had his second chance at life and saw life through a different lens, he then loved and cherished everything he cursed! Not only was he then the richest man in Bedford Falls monetarily, but he realized he was rich in love, family and friendship. I never noticed that as soon as he came in the house after his second chance that he praised God with a Hallelujah!!! That touched me so! He said he wasn’t a praying man and a man of faith, but funny how he knew to pray and he knew to praise!
Pray and praise. That’s really it right there guys. Pray to God, He wants to hear from you. Yesterday this scripture screamed at me and I received it.
Matthew 7:7-8 Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (NLT)
I was sitting at my desk at work and I just started to cry because God answered my prayer by directing me to that scripture and I won’t go into all of it, but it encouraged me and then noticing that in the movie after reading the scripture… it just all came together for me.
And then praise…well the bible says we are to give thanks in everything. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. To give thanks is to give praise. In EVERYTHING. That means the good, the bad, whether happy or sad, to thank Him.
So yes, some of my dreams haven’t been fulfilled and I don’t have all that I want to have but I know that I have a wonderful life. My prayer is “Lord please help me to see with your eyes. Help me to see past myself and see the good. Help me to be a blessing to others. Help me to not complain, because I know that when I complain I am complaining against you and I know that you are blessing me. Forgive me Father.” Sometimes you just have to take inventory. When I take inventory I realize that I am truly blessed. And you will find that you are too. We’re blessed in different ways and as I walk through this test, I am praising my way through it. A lot of tears shed, but not all sad tears. It’s far too easy to fall into a slump or depression this time of year and my prayer for you is that you are able to focus on something good, no matter how small.
My last point that I wanted to share is that Mr. Potter symbolizes the devil. The devil has one job and one job only and that is to kill, steal and destroy. What is he trying to kill? You!! He’s trying to destroy you! And he wants to take everything you have from you…joy, peace, a sane mind, you name it, he wants it. You have a marriage? He wants to destroy it. You have a family? He wants to kill the family unit, he wants to cause rifts and separate you from each other. And we as humans, have moments of weakness where we may entertain the notions of the devil… George went to Potter for help and then realized he just could not allow himself to make a deal with the devil. He was willing to accept whatever fate was in his future.
I’m not trying to preach to you, but to encourage you… you don’t have to be a Christian to read my blog, but I am a Christian and because I watched this movie and was so moved, I can’t not share it in the way that I see it. Jesus is the reason we celebrate the holidays and I would be remiss to not invite you to get to know Jesus on a personal level. If you are in a place in your life where you feel you have nowhere to turn or you are alone, know that you are not. You can turn to Jesus. If you are in that place and you want someone to talk to or to pray for you, send me an email and I’d be glad to!!
Think about what you do have and focus on that… it makes such a difference I promise you!
Oh and if you haven’t seen this movie, please do yourself and me a favor and do!!! It comes on so much during the holidays but you can find it just about anywhere. It’s so worth it! : )
Martin says
Great post. Very informative page. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and Thank you for sharing it with us!
Martin recently posted…How to Grow Positive Google Reviews