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It's unlikely that Christmas specials are still running on TV, and maybe you've already packed away your collection of holiday DVDs, but I'm still thinking about two of our family's standards - A Christmas Carol (the one starring Alistair Sim) and It's A Wonderful Life. We have a lot of other favorites that we make sure to watch during the season, but those two are special and we often watch those on Christmas Eve.
It's A Wonderful Life is my all-time favorite Christmas movie. I mean, it's got everything, right? Coming of age story - check. Heroes and villains - check. Drama - check. Romance - check. Humor - check. Classic story-telling and film-making - check. It's just a beautiful story with lovable and relatable characters, and it's told so well by the actors and director that its compelling message is memorable and still relevant even now, over seventy years after it was released.
Everyone loves George Bailey, the lead character, and its easy to see why. He's a lot of fun to be around, with his sense of humor and love for adventure. He's ambitious and has big dreams, and he's a natural leader, but he's also so generous and kind-hearted that the only person he ever offends is greedy old Mr. Potter. Even as a youngster, he has a powerful moral compass that compels him to do what is right and to help others, even at risk to himself. Even at his point of desperation, George will not tell Mr. Potter that it was Uncle Billy that lost the money - instead he takes the blame himself. He's the kind of everyday hero that young men should strive to be like - faithful, loyal, hardworking, and good.
Clarence, the guardian angel, is sweet and lovable as he does his best to show George how good his 'boring' life is, and how much good he has done for others. I love how George tries to protect the angel that has been sent to protect him.
Mary Bailey is devoted, loyal, and patient. She handles disappointment and uncertainty with grace and dignity. She's resourceful, creative, and hard-working, and she cheerfully makes the best of every situation. And in a way, it's Mary that is really the hero of the story. We don't see her complain or pout when there's a run on the bank just as she and George are about to leave on their honeymoon. Instead, she offers the cash received for their wedding to keep the bank in business, and she does it with a smile. And when George finally leaves the bank that day - their wedding day! - he finds that she has resourcefully turned a dilapidated old house into their bridal suite. She works hard to make that 'drafty old barn' into a beautiful and happy home, and she also works hard doing her part during the war effort and helping George with the Savings and Loan business. When George leaves the house in a rage after complaining about everything, shouting at her and the children, and insulting the teacher, Mary urges the children to pray for their daddy and she sets off to rally George's friends to help.
Everyone loves George Bailey, the lead character, and its easy to see why. He's a lot of fun to be around, with his sense of humor and love for adventure. He's ambitious and has big dreams, and he's a natural leader, but he's also so generous and kind-hearted that the only person he ever offends is greedy old Mr. Potter. Even as a youngster, he has a powerful moral compass that compels him to do what is right and to help others, even at risk to himself. Even at his point of desperation, George will not tell Mr. Potter that it was Uncle Billy that lost the money - instead he takes the blame himself. He's the kind of everyday hero that young men should strive to be like - faithful, loyal, hardworking, and good.
Clarence, the guardian angel, is sweet and lovable as he does his best to show George how good his 'boring' life is, and how much good he has done for others. I love how George tries to protect the angel that has been sent to protect him.
Mary Bailey is devoted, loyal, and patient. She handles disappointment and uncertainty with grace and dignity. She's resourceful, creative, and hard-working, and she cheerfully makes the best of every situation. And in a way, it's Mary that is really the hero of the story. We don't see her complain or pout when there's a run on the bank just as she and George are about to leave on their honeymoon. Instead, she offers the cash received for their wedding to keep the bank in business, and she does it with a smile. And when George finally leaves the bank that day - their wedding day! - he finds that she has resourcefully turned a dilapidated old house into their bridal suite. She works hard to make that 'drafty old barn' into a beautiful and happy home, and she also works hard doing her part during the war effort and helping George with the Savings and Loan business. When George leaves the house in a rage after complaining about everything, shouting at her and the children, and insulting the teacher, Mary urges the children to pray for their daddy and she sets off to rally George's friends to help.
It doesn't matter how many times I see the movie, I go ahead and cry when Mary runs breathlessly into the house when George returns, exclaiming "It's a miracle!" as practically the whole town turns out to pour out generously to George in gratitude for all he's given to them and their community. Nobody needs to know what has gone wrong or why. They just know that George Bailey is in trouble and they do whatever they can to help, joyfully blessing their beloved friend.
George and Mary have lived generously, and they are greatly blessed as a result.
George learned from his own father that everyone deserved respect and dignity. That was the guiding principle of the Savings and Loan, and George continued to live it out. As Clarence observes in the movie, "Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives.When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?" George feels that his dreams of doing big things with his life have been thwarted. He hasn't traveled the world, built huge buildings, invented things, or become a millionaire, so he thinks his life has been wasted and he didn't make a difference. In his despair, he wonders if his loved ones would have been better off if he'd never lived at all.
But of course his life matters, and he made a difference in the lives of everyone around him. George's quick thinking saved his brother's life. But it's not just this act of childhood heroism that made a difference. It was the way George lived his everyday life in an honorable way. As he learned from his own father, he treated everyone with kindness and respect. He was confused and scared as a young boy working in the drug store, but he was observant and knew something was wrong with a prescription so he did what he thought was right and didn't deliver it. Then he showed halting compassion and understanding for the broken-hearted Mr. Gower. He stood up to the villainous Mr Potter, defending the rights of those who would otherwise have been friendless and powerless in the little town. It's only referenced in passing, but George protected Uncle Billy from being marginalized. Billy was eccentric and forgetful, but he was able to stay independent and contribute meaningfully to the family business.
Do we live generously? Do we treat others with compassion and respect? Not just during the holiday season, but all the time? It's easy to be generous and kind during the holidays, but if we are Christ-followers, we know we should be showing his love at all times, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus told us to "let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) Oh, I know this movie may not be a "Christian" film, and certainly the notion of angels it presents isn't Biblical, but it is a challenge to Christians to show grace and mercy and love to others just as God showed his love to us. A reminder to be faithful in doing the right things and showing kindness each day even in the small things. Our actions and example make a difference. Let it be a difference that is good and positive and points others towards the Savior.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. ~Galatians 6:9-10
Dear George, remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings, Love Clarence
For more thoughts on the message and lessons of this movie, see: Why there will never be a better Christmas movie than 'It's a Wonderful Life' at Aleteia and The Quiet Hero of 'It's a Wonderful Life' at Fox News Opinion.
This post is linked at the Homeschool Linky Party on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.
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