Greetings,
It's a wonderful life! Our family just watched this timeless classic the other night. It is one of my top 10 favorite movies.
There are many lessons to be learned from it. There’s a lovely little scene that is rarely mentioned, but it touches me each time I see it. George and Mary help the Martinis move into their new home (including shuttling much of the Martini brood and the family goat in their car). Afterward, The Baileys offer three small gifts and this simple toast: “Bread, that this house may never know hunger. Salt, that life may always have flavor. And wine, that joy and prosperity may reign forever.”
It reflects a sentiment woven throughout the story, that things of true worth are not measured in dollars, but in the currency of friendship and family, and the good karma one puts out into the world. Maybe best expressed by the motto in Peter Bailey’s office: “All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away.”
On a somewhat-related note, this is a time of year that people struggling to make ends meet feel an extra strain. This, in turn, puts an added burden on our local food shelves as they work their hardest to help those in need. Any contributions you can make would be greatly appreciated and here are some links with more local information:
Delano Helping Hands Food Shelf
Wright County's Food Shelves Clothing Centers
Annandale Food Shelf (also serves Maple Lk. and S. Haven)
Buffalo Food Shelf
All my best as we remain grateful to be Americans and enjoy God’s blessings in the comfort of friends and family this Christmas and New Year's season. Let's also remember the hard-working people who be on the clock over holidays – from gas station employees to police officers, medical personnel, fire fighters and more – so please thank them for the great services they provide.
Thank you for your continued input on the issues and we will dig back into those next time as we prepare for the 2016 legislative session to begin in March.
God bless,
Joe