This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Appreciating all that we have is life's invitation to enjoy the gifts that Our Father provides for our well being, even in those periods when nothing appears to be going well. In primary school I learned that behind the dark clouds, the sun continues to shine encouraging me to wait for tomorrow's blue skies, with the sun beaming its blessings on all working through difficult moments.
“Reflect upon your present blessings—of which every man has many—not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some”
~ Charles Dickens
One of my favourite Hollywood film directors, Frank Capra encouraged his audiences to understand that the joys of living are our responsibility when we choose to serve the common good. Capra's films predictably illustrate his heroes facing traumatic periods when life appeared to be too difficult, even meaningless to continue living.
The principle protaganist in Frank Capra's, "It's a Wonderful Life" was James Stewart recently returned to the USA from his war time service in the UK piloting aircraft. James Stewart was filled with depression, a broken man filled with memories of the horrors of war.
"It's a Wonderful Life" provided healing for James Stewart enabling him to recover from his war time inflicted misery, by understanding that it is during our periods of deep troubles that we grow into the mature person, able to appreciate all the gifts that Our Father bestows on us to share with all needing encouragement to keep on fighting the good fight against our easy choice to surrender to our fear of failing to cope with our traumatic periods.
A link to: "It's a Wonderful Life"
https://vimeo.com/645015849
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