It’s a Wonderful Life
Last night I watched “It’s a Wonderful Life”. I’ve seen it more times than I can count and still cry every time. I’m always drawn to the gripping scene where George is holding Mary full of anger and passion and declares to her… “I wanna do, what I wanna do.” He had so many big plans that didn’t include Bedford Falls or getting married.
It was during the anger and passion that he finally gave his life to her. He knew that once he married her, he was giving up all HIS plans, and surrendering to his father’s plan of staying in Bedford falls and running the “Ol building and loan.” George was facing a critical moment and a wrestling within of doing what he wanted or surrendering to the love of his life, which he also wanted.
This is such a beautiful representation of our own surrender to Jesus. Just as George surrendered to his love for Mary, when we ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, we are surrendering our heart to Him. Just as George finally settles down after marrying Mary, He next completely surrenders to what his dad wanted him to do by managing the building and loan. After accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, we finally can surrender our plans to do our Father God’s plan. We sometimes wrestle within because we want our plans, but we want His plans, too.
Eventually George is put in a position to see how his dad’s plan led to a really wonderful life. It was not perfect in any way. It wasn’t glamorous, nor did it include money or things. It was a life full of helping others and being surrounded by love.