If you’ve never seen the 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life it’s worth digging up a copy. You might need to make sure your kids are at least in elementary school to enjoy it but it’s a wonderful movie and story. If it’s been a while since you’ve seen it here’s a brief summary.
George Bailey has spent his life giving to the people of Bedford Falls and runs a building and loan company. His uncle Billy loses $8,000 and George knows he will be held responsible and thrown in jail for theft. He believes his life has been a failure and a waste and contemplates killing himself believing everyone will be better off. But he is saved by the prayers of his family and an angel named Clarence who shows him how much he has helped and changed the lives of many people. Ultimately George learns that he has touched the lives of many people in a positive way and that his is truly a wonderful life.
There are so many lessons and messages that this movie can teach us but one of the most important ones is found in the interaction between Clarence and George. Clarence jumps into the river to save George from killing himself. Clarence, of course, is an angel sent by God to save George and show him how much his life is worth. That basic message is that God often reaches out to us during our lowest points in life. It’s true in George Bailey’s life and it’s true in our lives as well.
He did this in the life of Joseph and Gideon in the Old Testament and in Peter and Paul’s life in the New Testament. When we feel at our lowest point God will be with us to help us get through it. He might do it through reading a passage from the Bible or from a good friend or family member or some other way but we know that God will be with us.
Another lesson we learn is that God wants us to look forward and focus on the life ahead of us.
Read Isaiah 43:16-21
Here, God tells Israel that he is doing a new thing in their lives. He says forget the things of the past and look to the future. What has happened in the past, whether it’s good or bad, we can’t change. Instead focus on all the opportunities in life ahead of you and trust that God will work it out.
Activity: Watch It’s a Wonderful Life, together as a family and then discuss a few questions.
· What did Clarence do to help George?
· Why is George so happy when he finally gets back to his normal reality?
· What can we be thankful for that might seem ordinary in our lives?
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