Every December I watch the classic movie, starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  This has been a tradition of mine for many, many years.  If you haven’t seen it, I HIGHLY recommend it.

For me, it is definitely a tear jerker – especially at the end, yet this time around I found myself tearing up almost as soon as the movie started!  Because I have seen it so many times, I know what is coming; I know the significance of each scene; I can recite many of the lines before they say them (if you know me that is quite a feat in and of itself).  Yet, this time around I felt like I was learning new lessons in every scene.  Each scene deeply touched my heart.  I know that it is because I am in a new place of discovery in my life and I am seeing things in a way that I have never seen them before.

For those of you who have not seen the movie or don’t really remember it, here is a little recap I found on the internet:

“George Bailey never got a chance to fulfill his life’s ambitions of exploring the world and building skyscrapers.  As he watches his friends and family become success stories he dreads on running his father’s building and loan business, rivaling the grumpy old Mr. Potter.  When a financial discrepancy puts George in a difficult position, an angel comes to show him what life would have been like if he had never been born.”

~ Written by Eric Johnson via IMDb

Spoiler Alert!  In the end George recognizes his own worth, then he finds the whole town and his old friends rallying around to save him from his financial hardship.  George was given a gift, the gift to see what the world would be like if he had never been born.  He saw sadness, hardship and death had become the lot of friends and loved ones because he was not there to be a part of their journey through life.

Now you and I will likely never have an angel visit us and give us a glimpse into a world where we were never born.  So, how will we know if we are making a difference?  If we truly have a Wonderful Life that is so close that perhaps we can’t see it?

Think about those that have touched your life and given you help or hope and probably don’t even know they made a difference.  Can you think of times you were feeling down, hopeless, worried, desperate, uncertain?  Are there people who came along, perhaps even strangers, that gave you exactly what you needed to keep going and overcome?

It is my firm belief every person on this planet has touched someone else’s life for good.  I see it all the time.  A “thank you” offered to a tired store clerk that brings a smile to their face.  A door held open for a mother with her arms full of children that lightens her load.  A smile shared with a grumpy old man eating alone in a restaurant that softens his demeanor.

Then there are bigger things:  A stranger clearing the snow from a driveway out of the goodness of his heart;  Or perhaps buying the meal of the person behind him in the drive through;  Or even donating a kidney and saving a life.  I have been witness to all of the above and I know the giver has no idea how much they changed the life of the receiver for the better.

Of course donating a kidney saved a life.  It is easy to see that.  But what about sharing a smile?  Could that save a life?  I believe it can ~ with all my heart.

As you go about your day, take note of the little things you do.  The smile, the thank you, the opportunities you take to lend a hand.  You never know what a difference you can make.  You may be saving someone.

As I said before, I believe with all my heart that everyone on this planet has touched someone else’s life for good – THAT INCLUDES YOU!  Remember that, especially in moments you find your spirits to be low.  YOU make a difference.  YOU have a Wonderful Life!