On Saturday night my family and I sat down to watch It's A Wonderful Life--again.
I can't remember how many time I've seen this movie but I adore it. I have since I was a kid. It's message gets me every time: each of us matters, and some point we all need a little help from our friends. Ahh what a wonderful world it would be if each of us took this to heart.
During this year's viewing I found myself noticing the written statements in the picture. (No particular reason but I am glad I did.)
The first one is framed on the wall of the Building and Loan. George and Mary have just been married and are on their way to a honeymoon. George is detoured on the way when he hears there's a run on the bank. He shows up at the Building and Loan. His clients are there and they are demanding their deposits back. He's trying decide what to do. The audience knows he has $2,000 in cash that he intended to spend on his honeymoon. For a moment he gazes at the picture that reads: All that you can take with you is that which you've given away.
We all know what George does next. He takes his $2,000 dollars and starts lending it to his clients.
The other written statement comes at the very end of the film. George finds Clarence's copy of Tom Sawyer buried in the money basket. He opens the front-cover and finds the following inscription: Remember, no man is a failure who has friends...
At this point in the story, George is surrounded by his friends, all of who've come to help him when he needs it the most.
Two statements that really resonated with me this year.
