It is that time of the year here when Christmas movies are flooding the airwaves. It seems like every time I change the channel there is another new one trying to get me to watch it. In truth, though, there are only two Christmas movies I watch every year: “A Christmas Carol” and the Jimmy Stewart classic, “It’s a wonderful life.”

When I was younger I identified more with, “A Christmas Carol.” It was a joy seeing that selfish, miserly, old Ebenezer Scrooge could change into a loving, giving soul, even if it did take some ghostly help. As I got older and into my middle years, however, I started to identify more with, “It’s a wonderful life.” I could see myself in George Bailey, a good man trying to live a good life, putting the needs of others before himself, yet still getting beaten down by life at times. I felt his frustration and his struggles, his dreams and his ambitions. And I even shared in his doubts that his life had made any difference at all.

Fortunately every time these doubts appeared God in His Infinite Love would send me a little reminder that I was making a difference with my life. I never got a lovable angel named Clarence, but I did get countless signs that I was being watched over and loved. I got reminders that I was a part of something far greater than myself. And I was shown over and over that every act of love and kindness, no matter how small, makes this world a better place. Each time this happened, I felt filled with so much joy, so much love for everyone that I wanted to run down the street like George Bailey shouting, “Merry Christmas” to everyone I saw.

May you always cherish your wonderful life here. God loves you. And God wants you to know that you are making a far greater difference than you can see. You are touching far more lives with your love than you can know. And you are precious in His sight.

” For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

Joseph J. Mazzella