Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to
the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
– Matthew 10:29–31 (ESV)

I’ll never forget the year I missed the soft candlelight, sparkling trees, and freshly baked cookies synonymous with Christmas. I had just given birth to my first child two weeks prior, still experiencing the physical effects of postpartum after a long, difficult birth. Christmas was quiet, lonely and uneventful. We were snowed-in on the opposite side of the state from our family and friends, and the holiday passed by with more thoughts of breastfeeding and diaper changes than holiday cheer and holy wonderment. Life happens, even during this special time of year, and sometimes we let our joy be stolen.

A GLIMPSE INTO HIS WORLD

Grief, waning bank accounts, illness, and troubles in relationships can cast a shadow across our holiday cheer. Maybe that’s why I love the film, It’s a Wonderful Life so much—because it shows life’s challenges, but also reminds us that our individual lives are important to God. 

When George Bailey, a family man with a heart of gold, sinks deep into despair and disappointment at the trajectory of his life, he contemplates the unthinkable—ending it all. This may not sound like a heartwarming holiday tale, but stay tuned, because God sends a quirky angel, Clarence, to save George by offering him a glimpse into what the world might have been like without him, revealing the incredible difference he has made in the lives of those around him. 

George sees firsthand how much of the town’s beloved family-owned businesses would close their doors without the small loans he provided at his bank, how lonely his wife would be without his love, how his brother’s life would have been cut short if he hadn’t been there to save him from falling through the ice as a child. God had a plan for George Bailey and his family, and God has a plan for you, too.

LIFE WITH FRESH EYES

If you’re going through a challenging season this holiday, remember that God sent Jesus to remind you how precious your life is to him. If Christmas means anything, it’s that you matter so much to God—that he gave his only Son to save us. You are here for a reason, and you are deeply, unconditionally loved. 

As Clarence says to George, “You see, you’ve really had a wonderful life.” May this Christmas be the season in which you see with fresh eyes the difference you make in the world around you, just by being who God created you to be. You are loved!

Reflect: What or who are you letting define your worth, other than God?