It's a Wonderful Life

I admit it, I am a "Wonderful Life" kind of gal.  We watch it every year together, and I STILL get teary eyed when Harry comes in with a toast to his brother George, "To my brother George, the richest man in town." ~Cue streaming tears down my cheek~

Why does that get me so?  Well I've thought about it, and here it is:

George Bailey, a man with big dreams and an adventurous spirit, lived a life of dying to self to benefit others.  Sometimes he went down kicking and screaming, and sometimes he died gracefully, but he counted others as better than himself.  He sacrificed wealth, a booming career, and travel to love those who needed him to stay in town and care for them.  What a noble life!  So why did he doubt it was all in vain when things got tough?  Couldn't he see what a difference he was making in the lives of those around him?

That's the thing about living like George Bailey, the little daily deaths become routine, and begin to slip by unnoticed to the one dying.  It becomes a way of life, and sometimes it can grow wearisome, thankless and the worst of all seemingly insignificant.  But you moms out there wouldn't know anything about THAT, now would you?  Many of you stay at home types, are sacrificing a second income that would come in mighty handy this time of year...but you counted the cost and chose to invest that time in the lives that need you by being there.  Many of you working mothers are dying to self  to put food on the table, making sacrifices of sleep and time to make sure those who count on you have the basic needs.  No matter what you have chosen, a mother is in the role of dying to self daily, multiple times a day....diapers, dish washers, laundry, reading books, picking up toys, trading out seasonal clothes, taking stock and getting the new needs for the season, helping with homework, or planning the homeschool curriculum, making meals, training character, teaching about the love of Christ...and the list goes on. 

There are times when you work all day and feel that no one even noticed what you did, and you feel small, and worthless.  Those are the dangerous moments, when you think...what if I had a career and no children?  Wouldn't my gifts be better used for society if I wasn't being a maid and a nanny? 

I think that is why Harry Bailey's toast gets me so...George isn't the richest man in town because everyone has just brought him the money he needed to pay the bank...NO, he is rich because all those little deaths he died daily, brought forth a harvest of a 100 fold in the lives around him, and made him blessed with friends and family.  More than if he had gone off and had a successful career, and made some BIG contribution to society. (at least as notoriety goes)

We may not be given the gift to see life as it would be without us...but we can trust in the scriptures that encourage us to pick up our cross and follow Jesus.  When we choose to play a pretend game with our child that makes NO sense what-so-ever, or allow her to help wrap a present, even though it will take twice as long, or get up to make 3 more meals to nourish and build up their little bodies...we are making an eternal investment  that will have an exponential impact beyond our comprehension....even if it is never noticed in the papers, or given great awards of accolades.....but then, Jesus came into the world without fanfare, and when he died on the cross it was between two thieves...hardly a claim to fame....but time was split, and eternity bought into our grasp....

...and He is our Great example, our Savior, who died to himself that we might live.

Merry Christmas Dear Ones!