Three Takeaways from “It’s a Wonderful Life”
Tonight, I re-watched It’s a Wonderful Life, the 1946 classic film starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.
Brief Summary: George Bailey is on the verge of suicide, when an angel named Clarence grants Bailey’s wish and shows him what life would be like if he was never born.
Here are my three major takeaways from the Christmas classic:
1. Sacrifice
Throughout the entire movie, George Bailey gives up his dreams to help others.
-When his brother Harry was little and nearly drown, George saved his life, at the cost of hearing in his left ear.
-When his father passed away, George took over the family business. He didn’t care for it or Bedford Falls, but wanted to keep it from the town Scrooge, Mr. Potter.
-Originally, George was going to handle the business and Harry would take it over after school. However, Harry married and took a job with his wife’s father.
-When George and Mary were getting ready to go on their honeymoon, everyone demanded their money from the bank and Mr. Potter threatened to take his clients. George loaned his customers out of the $2,000 he had intended for the honeymoon.
That type of sacrifice is rare to see. I think a lot of people nowadays (myself included) crave comfort and want to fulfill our own dreams. Completely putting our dreams on the back-burner for others can seem impossible at times.
However, this is only a small glimpse of the sacrifice God made for us. He sent His only Son to die on a cross and pay the debt we owed.
At the Lord’s Supper, Jesus’s disciples were arguing over who was the greatest.
Here’s Jesus’s response in Luke 22:25-27 (ESV):
And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.”
Putting others first is so important. Life isn’t about what we can get or what’s best for us. Rather, it’s about showing Jesus’s love to everyone and putting their needs before our own.
2. Love
While there’s no doubt that George Bailey loved Mary and their children, Mary’s love toward George stood out to me the most.
When they were kids, she whispered in his deaf ear that she loved him.
At 18, they danced and she still liked him, but George seemed blind to the fact that she really liked him. However, that night she made a wish (I’m assuming it was that they would marry.)
Then four more years went by. Mary went to college and came back to Bedford Falls. With a little persuasion from his mother, George and Mary finally reacquainted and got married.
It seems insanely difficult to wait four years to marry someone. It had to be frustrating that George didn’t express his love for Mary right away. However, there’s something noble about patiently waiting for the right guy to come.
As the Apostle Paul starts off in 1 Corinthians 13:4, “Love is patient…”.
And when Mary knew that George was on the verge of suicide, she went out looking for him. Her prayers reached heaven which led to Clarence the angel’s arrival.
3. Purpose
What would life be like if I was never born?
Ever since I watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” as a kid, I’ve wondered that question. Maybe you have too. We don’t always get to see the impact our lives have had like George did, but nonetheless, every life matters.
The entire town of Bedford Falls was impacted by the life of George Bailey.
George saved his brother Harry as a child. Harry in turn, became a World War II hero and saved many lives as a soldier.
The Bailey Park housing district George started helped several families have comfortable homes at a price they could afford.
If George had not taken over his dad’s business, Mr. Potter would have controlled everything. Bedford Falls became Pottersville and the town was nothing but bars and dance clubs, in the life without George.
All in all, this movie was an important reminder that every single life matters.
Think about all the lives you’ve impacted and all the people that have influenced your life.
Life may not always make sense or come easy, but there’s no denying that it’s a wonderful life.
Live So Fully 