It’s a Wonderful Life

Yesterday while out doing a ton of Christmas type errands, I made a quick stop at our local credit union that has the Care For Curt account set up. Someone had graciously given us a $1,000 check last week and I wanted to deposit it.  I stepped up to the counter and went to hand the check to the teller ( who is one of Curt’s former students by the way) when panic set it.  I could not find it!  I checked my pockets, my wallet, went back out to the van, looked around the parking lot thinking I may have dropped it….the check was no where.

As I scoured the parking lot for the check I was having thoughts of the scene from “It’s a Wonderful Life” when Uncle Billy lost a HUGE bank deposit.

If you are familiar with “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the lost money is a catalyst for the movie. Things begin to unravel pretty quickly for the kind hearted George Bailey after the money goes missing.  But in the end the movie reminds us, in the most dire of situations help arrives from friends, family and the town of Bedford Falls.

Do you see the parallel?

 

We have been at a turning point with Curt’s care and I honestly did not know what to do?!

I prayed

I prayed some more

I pleaded for direction from God

I even yelled at God and told Him I hate making these decisions, and well………. I did kind of mention in a fit of anger that I sure wish Curt was able to help with the decision making. It all just pretty much poured out………….

And I have come to learn, it’s ok to bring my grief, my anger, my frustrations, my worries, and my heartache to God.

For in those moments I have gained the strength to step out in faith, to Trust God completely with the unknown future.  It’s not always easy, and at times it’s down right H.A.R.D.

But it is in those deep valleys of life that we often see something that may have been missed in the normal chaos of a busy life.

We get to see God’s provision and blessing first hand on such a deep and personal level!

 

YES, we have been blessed!

 

 

God has  provided for us through this Go Fund Me account that was set up to help with care expenses for Curt.  It is amazing to see all the donations to the account.  We now have 3 more months paid for, Curt was to run out of money in February!

 

It is a Wonderful Life, we are so thankful for the opportunity to see first hand the handiwork of God.  We have been blessed like in the movie by our friends, family and our town!

I have learned to take a moment and pause…..it’s hard in my task driven world to slow down.   However, when I do, it is then I see God and His goodness and provision first hand.

Do you see how even in the hard times, it is a wonderful life!

 

So back to my check…….I found it!   Unlike Uncle Billy I did not accidentally give it away to the town scrooge (aka Mr. Potter). My overworked and weary brain simply left it sitting on the kitchen table.

But the whole incident was a good reminder to me about the priorities of life.

I showed my students a video the other day of the classic story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

This endearing quote from the movie struck a chord with me this year:

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

 

Yes Christmas does mean SO much more than all those gifts under the tree, and our sweet family traditions.

It is about a dear baby born in  humble, destitute surroundings that came to change the world.

Lyrics from O’ Holy Night
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

 

Christmas is so much more to us this year, our greatest Gift is Jesus and God’s ongoing provision for our family.  Thanks for lovin on our family!

Merry Christmas….. It is a Wonderful Life, may we all pause this Christmas to see it.

 

P.S  Are you allowed to have a P.S on a blog? 🙂  This is 2 blog posts with in the last 2 months….that my friends truly is a Christmas miracle! ha ha