Life is Wonderful!

What a wonderful Christmas movie! I know these posts are a bit late but we can't skip Christmas! First off, this was my first Christmas away from home and my family. While watching the classic "It's a Wonderful Life" I swooned a bit over the striking Jimmy Stewart (he always reminds me of the one and only picture in Em and Rays first apt above the kitchen sink ??), sang along to "Buffalo gals won't you come out tonight, come out tonight, come out tonight. Buffalo gals..." and then came to thinking about the lesson learned in Mr. George Baily's life this particular Christmas. I thought about friends and family whom I wouldn't be seeing or hearing carols from or watching in the Smith Christmas Talent Show or delighting in eggsaronious with. I thought about all the cheesey movies, books, and devotionals we hear this time of year that feed us the message, "It's the people in our lives that matter most," and about the irreplaceable truth, though so cliche, in that message.


My dad is a really hard person to buy presents for. Of course, Harbor Freight or Chinese Gourmet gift cards are always appropriate, but getting something you know he'll really like is pretty tricky. With Mother, heck, wrap up a pair of socks and she'll light up, pour out praises of gratitude, and put them on right there in front of you. In thinking of presents for the 'rents I thought about all the presents they've gifted to us. I really feel love out of those presents. Lest I come off as spoiled and materialistic, let me illustrate: My father is very practical, especially when spending money. Why get an iPod when there are perfectly functioning MP3 players for half the price? Well, because they're cooler but that's never a real reason for parents, right? Anyway, Christmas comes around and there it is, shining in all of its glory...a new brand-name iPod. (Thank goodness for mother, huh? j/k Dad) Fast-forward a couple months and there in the mail are 2 lovely Valentine's cards for Natalli and I with nothing less than i-Tunes gift cards from Dad. Maybe you're wondering what the big deal is and I probably can't explain it. It has to do with selflessness, it has to do with forgetting practicality because your kids are in your thoughts instead, it has to do with love. I love my parents lots and lots, and really I can't help but love them because of all they have done. 1 John 4:19 "We love because He first loved us." I think that is what parents are meant to teach. The familial design is no accident/coincidence. I'm excited to pass on the message. (And no I'm not announcing anything.)

That's my Christmas tangent. Merry Christmas, all!