Lessons Learned From "It's A Wonderful Life"

For our family, Christmas wouldn’t feel right without watching It’s a Wonderful Life. This movie isn’t just about Christmas—it’s about how people can help each other and build a loving, strong community, neighborhood, or church family.

I once read something by a teacher named Professor Ray Carney. He said the movie shows that life can feel like a happy picture from a storybook. But he also thought the movie was sad because George Bailey, the main character, didn’t get to chase his big dreams. He stayed in his hometown, married a girl he already knew, and never traveled the world. The professor called George a lonely and sad character.

That idea doesn’t make sense to me. George Bailey isn’t sad—he’s the richest man in town! Not because of money, but because he cared about people, helped them, and stood up for what was right. He gave his best to his family and friends, and that’s what really matters.

Sure, George never got to visit Europe, but he wasn’t just wandering through life like a tourist. He lived with purpose. It’s hard to imagine a movie like this being made today, with so many action-packed or serious films. But It’s a Wonderful Life has one of the most heartwarming scenes ever. Do you remember the part where George and Mary share a phone call together? They’re so close, both holding the phone, and you can feel how much they care for each other. That moment is about love, trust, and building a life together.

The movie teaches us about the importance of kindness and helping others. For example, think about someone in your neighborhood or school who helps everyone. Maybe it’s a teacher who stays late to help kids learn or a neighbor who always brings food when someone is sick. Those little acts of kindness matter a lot, just like in the movie.

One part of the movie that makes me think is how people seem to miss these kinds of values when they start to disappear. But the good news is that we can bring them back by showing love and care for others.

When I think about my own life, I feel very thankful. I have a family who loves me, healthy kids, a warm home, good friends, and a job I enjoy. And, most importantly, I know that God loves me. Just like the movie says, it really is a wonderful life!

LESSONS LEARNED FROM MOVIE

While it is true that life kept getting in the way of George Bailey's goals and dreams, we do learn lessons from his example in "It's a Wonderful Life."

  1. Every life matters – What you do can make a big difference in the lives of others, even if you don’t realize it.
  2. Kindness spreads – Helping someone can inspire them to help others too.
  3. Money isn’t everything – Love, family, and friendships are more important than wealth.
  4. Hard times teach us – Challenges can show us what really matters and help us grow stronger.
  5. Community matters – Supporting each other makes everyone’s life better.
  6. Be thankful – It’s important to appreciate the good things in your life, even the small ones.
  7. You’re not alone – Even when life feels tough, others care about you and want to help.

This Christmas season, let's focus on the eternal things, the words and actions that really matter in life, and gift thanks for the journey.


Written by David L. Burton

MORE INFORMATION

Take the Engaged Neighbor pledge and become part of a movement! The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge at https://nomoregoodneighbors.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special invitations to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton via emal at dburton541@yahoo.com.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Five Cities Named Most Neighborly in Missouri for 2024

Image
  Photo above: From a block party in Ferguson, Missouri. New to Missouri Good Neighbor Week this year was recognition for the most neighborly cities in the state.  This honor was based on points earned by participating in the week, city campaigns and proclamations, residents making nominations for most engaged neighbor and reporting acts of neighboring, and statewide or local prizes won.  "The goal was to further engage cities with Missouri Good Neighbor Week and we had over 12 pass proclamations and at least 12 that had organized city-wide efforts for Missouri Good Neighbor Week," said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and creator of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. "We ended the week with over 31,000 documented acts of neighboring and five cities worthy of the title 'most neighborly city' in Missouri." In 2024, five cities were named the most neighborly cities in Missouri: Houston, Excelsior Springs, Sikeston,...
Read more

MU Extension Announces Show Me Neighborhood Art Week June 1-15

Image
  To participate in Show Me Neighborhood Art Week, Missourians  must register here online . The registration deadline for Show Me Neighborhood Art Week is May 24. Preexisting and new public art can be registered, but only new art can be considered for prizes. The location for this event is ALL of Missouri -- your front yard, your neighborhood, and your community. The online state map marking locations around Missouri will be interactive. If you have questions, please see the contact emails at the end of this blog. SPRINGFIELD, MO. -  University of Missouri Extension has announced the launch of a new statewide public art exhibit called Show Me Neighborhood Art Week. This outreach program strives to promote creative expression and public art made by residents, regardless of their skill level, as a contribution to the community's sense of place and residents' sense of belonging. The initiative was inspired by LAWN (Lawn Art With Neighbors), a grassroots program launched in S...
Read more

Missouri's Most Engaged Neighbors Honored as Part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week

Image
 Jessica Bueler, Saint Louis City, Missouri During Missouri Good Neighbor Week 2024, over 120 individuals were nominated as Missouri's Most Engaged Neighbor, and 22 were selected for individual recognition. Our Missouri celebration also got national attention from NextDoor, the social media company, whose leadership team worked with us to create a post that went out nationwide on NextDoor on Sept. 27.  You can access it here . At that point, another 50 nominations poured in from across the state. "The nominations were of really high quality this year," said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and creator of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. "Every nominee should have received a letter letting them know of the nomination and a memento, a Missouri Good Neighbor Week nominee keychain." The top nominees (22 this year) will receive a check for $100 and an official award certificate. In past years, there have been 50 to 60 n...
Read more