It’s a Wonderful Life reveals deeper Christmas meaning beyond sentiment

Imagine it or not, I simply completed watching ‘It is a Great Life’ for the primary time.

If you happen to’re on the lookout for a Christmas film that may remind you what the vacations are actually about, that is the film you are on the lookout for.

About half-hour later my mother stated, “This is not actually a Christmas film.”

At that time within the film I agreed. There have been no elves, lights or Christmas bushes.

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The movie “It is a Great Life” was produced and directed by Frank Capra. Seen right here, James Stewart as George Bailey who contemplates suicide. Premiered December 20, 1946; theatrical launch on January 7, 1947. Display seize. Paramount Pictures. (Photograph by CBS through Getty Pictures)

Do not get me improper, I, the man who wears a special loopy Christmas shirt on daily basis in December, love that type of factor and all the time will! However this film has a deeper that means, and if my mom hadn’t fallen asleep shortly afterwards, I am positive she would have agreed.

George Bailey’s story is about gratitude for God’s blessings and studying to belief Him, particularly when life does not go the best way you assume it ought to.

Mankind’s shaky religion in God throughout the many trials of the Previous Testomony revealed the necessity for what God had lengthy promised: Jesus coming from heaven to the manger we see in our Christmas reveals—to die for our sins, restore our relationship with God, and renew our religion in His higher plan.

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The movie reveals how highly effective that type of belief could be.

George was clever and bold, he dreamed of touring the world, constructing nice issues and escaping his small city. That life by no means got here. As a substitute, obligation saved him at residence: He took over his household’s modest neighborhood financial institution after his father’s loss of life, put the wants of others earlier than his personal, and watched associates make his desires come true.

But George and his cheerful spouse Mary embraced the life they got. They laughed quite a bit, raised their kids to hope, handled everybody with love and respect, and had been deeply grateful for the house and household God had supplied.

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However the actual check got here when lacking $8,000 from the financial institution introduced George undesirable consideration from a financial institution inspector, a journalist and even the police. Determined, he even thought-about taking his personal life. At that second he turned to God.

“Pricey Father in Heaven, I’m not a praying man, however in case you are up there and might hear me, present me the best way,” he stated. “I am on the finish of my rope.”

American actors James Stewart (1908-1997), as George Bailey, and Karolyn Grimes as his daughter Zuzu, in a scene from ‘It is a Great Life’, directed by Frank Capra, 1946. (Photograph by Silver Display Assortment/Getty Pictures)

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What adopted is the movie’s core lesson.

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God did not simply give George an answer. As a substitute, He confirmed him a world George was by no means born into: a darker, colder place the place the folks he had quietly helped had been misplaced and damaged; his spouse was alone and his kids by no means existed.

George realized that his life mattered greater than he realized and that whether or not or not he may clear up his monetary issues, he already had every thing he actually wanted.

When he returned to actuality, he embraced his household and residential with overflowing gratitude, entrusting the end result of this little private battle to God.

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But George and his cheerful spouse Mary embraced the life they got. They laughed quite a bit, raised their kids to hope, handled everybody with love and respect, and had been deeply grateful for the house and household God had supplied.

Then – and solely then – got here the ultimate present: the neighborhood he had served poured out its love and assist to save lots of the financial institution.

“Ask and will probably be given to you” doesn’t imply that we’ll obtain every thing we expect we want. It signifies that God listens and in the end supplies what is actually wanted to meet His plans for us—usually solely after we first study to belief Him.

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Hardships will nonetheless come – layoffs, sickness, loss – however it may be a part of God’s higher mission, a lot of which is past human understanding. Like Job within the Previous Testomony, who endured unimaginable struggling with out clarification however was in the end restored after extra totally entrusting himself to God, George had his personal second of give up. Solely then did he understand how richly blessed he already was. Solely then did he understand how richly blessed he already was.

It is a Great Life” was produced and directed by Frank Capra. Featured right here: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Carl Switzer. (Everett)

So perhaps my mom was proper. “It is a Great Life” just isn’t a Christmas film within the trendy, sentimental sense. It is one thing larger.

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If you have not deliberate to but, I extremely suggest checking it out once more this 12 months.

I do know I will be watching each December.