It is a Wonderful Life

I love the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.  It is a Christmas classic that I try to watch at least once a year.  It’s a story of George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart).  During his life, George constantly gave up his hopes and dreams so that others can benefit. For example,

• he gave up a chance to travel the world and go to school when his dad died and he had to take over the family business. By doing this, he also allowed Harry, his younger brother, to go to college since money was tight and only 1 person could go to college at a time.
• when Harry arrived home from college with a wife and a great job offer, he gave up his hopes of traveling and getting an education again because no one would take over the family business.
• he sacrificed his honeymoon so that he can save the family business from a run at the bank.  His new wife and he would never go on the honeymoon.

Although hard at times, George’s willingness to be flexible and unselfish with his life, greatly impacted a whole town.  At the end of the movie, Harry poses a toast to George for being “the richest man in town” for all the lives he has impacted.

As I was watching this movie this year, I was reminded of Youth Ministers.  It can be very hard at times to invest in the lives of students, but in the end, we end up being the richest people in town.  I have had countless times in which I look at my life in ministry and wonder if all the sacrifices I make is worth it.  Is the non-consistent schedule worth it?  Is the lack of quality pay worth it?  Are the choices I have to make that involve my family worth it?

Although hard sometimes, I know that they are worth it and that I am the “richest man in town”.  God has provided for my family and I in so many ways that I can not even begin to thank him for his blessings and provisions.  I have also seen the Lord touch so many lives while I have been in ministry that I wonder where those people would be today had I not been in ministry.  Yes, the choices and the sacrifices I make are tough and “not fair” sometimes.  But, in the long run, I end up being blessed so much more.

So, in this Christmas season, I know that I have a wonderful life.  And, I hope and pray that you all, as fellow Youth Workers, realized that you have a wonderful life as well.

Merry Christmas!  Christ is born!