is it REALLY a wonderful Life?

 "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." - 1 John 4:12

 I know of someone who was homeless on Christmas eve so may years ago. With only his suitcase of belongings to his name, he sat at the edge of a bridge, where he was apprehended by a cop, who though he was going to commit suicide.
No this isn't the plot to "It's a Wonderful Life," though it is said that life imitates art. Life is very real and at this time of the year, it comes back to haunt some of us in very scary ways. Expectations run high, everyone is waiting for the perfect gift, perfect relationship, perfect dinner and it just doesn't happen. Don't believe all the Hallmark channel movies....not everything is settled in a festive way. Sometimes the day after can be just as real as the day before.

As I said, life is not perfect...but that doesn't mean we all should just roll over and let it railroad us! Just as in the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life," what can you do to make the life of another a bit easier to bear? Poor George Bailey thought that he was a failure because his perfect expectations of his life didn't pan out. Yet it was his friends who, at the lowest point in his life, came through for him, just as he did for them so many times over his lifespan. As the movie points out, "Every life touches so many other lives." Also, "no man is a failure who has friends!"

Back to the homeless person on that Christmas eve so long ago. He had to start over, begin again. And again. and even AGAIN. Over the years it seemed that something was taken away that so drastically changed his life. Although it got him down, he was by no means OUT! Thanks to a few good friends and family, he made it back on his feet.  This is a lesson for all of us. Don't spend so much time looking for what WAS.....instead, look ahead to what can be! And never forget that for those who already have that "something," be available to help another who may be at a low point in his or her life. Build them up. Even a small gesture has large rewards.

When I was at a store yesterday, there was a bell ringer with the red kettle, slowly ringing her bell. Traffic was passing her by, no one had time to stop. Although the sun was out, where she stood under a canopy was not warmed by the sun. I imagined it was cold and uncomfortable for her. Reaching into my purse, I scooped out a handful of change, dropping it in the bucket. She gave me an absent-minded smile as I looked her in the eye, wished her a merry Christmas, then enveloped her in a hug. She straightened up, smiled back and the next thing I knew, that bell was waving wildly, the ring sounding so clear and strong...

Well, to sum it up, it was just as good for me as it was for her.
No kidding.