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The alarm sounded and I jumped
out of bed and rushed to the shower ??“ breakfast over, a
quick kiss good bye to my husband and I headed for my car
hoping to arrive at the stores before ahead of other
Christmas shoppers. I had my list and my determination was
high. Little did I anticipate others may have the same
idea? Not daunted at having to park at the farther end of
the parking lot I told myself the exercise would do me
good. Two hours later as I unloaded my cart my cheerfulness
and excitement I had experienced driving in had waned
considerably. I realized I had accomplished little. One more
stop which was much the same I decided to return home,
revamp and try another day.
On the 26 mile drive home while listening Bing Crosby and
his rendition of Silver Bells thoughts went
back to childhood Christmases, my own children??™s and how I
wanted this Christmas to be. I love the holidays, especially
Christmas and I was a little taken back at some of the
people shopping. They were in such a hurry and seemed so
irritated especially the lady who bumped me with her cart
and rushed away without an apology.
I
asked myself if I came across the same way. Did my actions
cause others to be saddened that I was around? Perhaps,
after all I had wanted to avoid the crowd!
Too
often this beautiful holiday, the celebration of the Saviors
birth, is one of hurrying and frustration when it should be
joyous and a feeling of good will to everyone. But too much
of the time it seems we empty our checkbooks and get
irritated rather than enjoying this beautiful occasion... I
was reminded of my own frustration when I become overloaded
with tasks that never seem to get done. The time seems so
fleeting that there doesn??™t seem to be enough time to do all
the baking, cooking, shopping I want to do. And the saddest
of all is when I meet someone and say hello and find myself
not really listening to their answer as my thoughts are only
on ???hurry???.
Deciding to make changes in my shopping as well as my
attitude I arrived home to see two cheerful dogs, Phoebe and
Squire who made me feel I was the most important person on
the planet.
After
dinner my husband was surfing TV and found the old movie, ???It??™s
a Wonderful Life.??? Of course we had seen it before but
my husband was so excited to see James Stewart once again
and his first class smile lighted his face from ear to ear
as he said, ???come on honey, sit down and watch this with
me.??? My first thought was, ???since I have seen this umpteen
times I??™d rather get started om the Christmas cards (my
attitude still slipping) but as I watched I realized I had
never really caught the real feeling and meaning of the
movie at all. After only a few minutes I was mesmerized
especially in the scene of the failure of the Savings and
Loans and the little woman who gave her support to George
Bailey??¦I saw what I was missing in my attitude??¦
For a
moment take a look with me of some of the highlights??¦ of
It??™s A Wonderful Life. I hope you find the joy I
experienced??¦
It's A Wonderful
Life
first filmed in (1946) and became one of the most popular
and heartwarming films ever made by director Frank Capra. It
was actually a box-office flop at the time of its release,
and only became the Christmas movie classic in the
1970s due to repeated television showings at Christmas-time
when its copyright protection slipped and it fell into the
public domain. Frank Capra regarded this film as his own
personal favorite - it was also James Stewart's favorite of
all his feature films.
It is actually a
dark, bittersweet post-war tale of a savings-and-loan
manager who struggles against a greedy banker and his own
self-doubting nature in a small town. Working with his
uncle, problems at the savings -and -loan forces its closure
and a run on the firm for depositors, each frightened and
wanting to withdraw all their money. George Bailey (James
Stewart) convinces most of them to trust him and leave their
money. Here the people??™s true character comes to life. One
man demanded every cent of his money while a sweet, trusting
woman looks up at George Bailey and asks, ???Could I please
have just $17.50 of my money???? The look of appreciation she
receives from George Bailey changed any frustrating feelings
I had encompassed earlier. Although this woman who was
willing to only take out just what she had to have touched
me deeply especially today when we see and hear so much
about cynicism. Although she only had one line her voice
and expression made a deep impression on me.
Earnest do-gooder
George Bailey recognizes his life as wonderful and truly
rich, even in its humdrum and bleak nature, only after
suffering many hardships, mishaps and fateful trials
(including compromised dreams of youth to leave the town and
seek fame and fortune, other sacrifices, dismay, losses and
the threat of financial ruin, and suicide). He is given
encouragement by a whimsical, endearing, trainee-angel named
Clarence. The hysterical, despairing, and melancholy family
man is shown what the small town (Bedford Falls, now renamed
Pottersville after the town's evil tycoon) would be like
without him. It's a frightening, nightmarish, view of the
world (at Christmas-time) that brings him back from
self-destruction. He returns to the idyllic, small-town
world that he left, with renewed faith and confidence in
life itself. Hence, the film's title: It's a Wonderful
Life. Perhaps we could all take a look at ourselves and
find the true meaning of Christmas and resolve to celebrate
by thinking of the Joy we might bring to another??™s life and
to be more caring and appreciative. May we each recognize
that we have ???A Wonderful Life.??? God Bless, Dorothy @
Blueprint4Living
Dorothy's first love her family
and then writing and reading are next in line. For the past
two years ahe has co-authored two books with two different
physicians, "Forever Factor, and Your Personal Guide to
Wellness." But admits she enjoys everyday life stories and
writing much better. |
