I always cry at the end of "It's A Wonderful Life". I know a lot of people get choked up. But for me there is something deep down that begins to move as people shower George Bailey with their love and gifts. George had given his life away in little pieces throughout the movie. Each time someone was in need he sacrificed his own dreams to help them fulfill theirs. Near the end he thinks he is broke and instead the truth rings out clear as a bell that he is the richest man in town. I have grown up in the home of a minister. I have seen my mom and dad live the pattern of sacrifice. That is in part why they are now living in the inlaw suite in my house like "Everybody Loves Raymond" only instead of being across the street they are on the other side of my family room. But now we seem to be getting closer to the end of the movie and I get to see how rich my dad really is. We have been showered with love ever since the word got out that dad had gone down with a stroke. It has been like the feeding of the 5000 and I have been feeding the neighbors with the excess. E-mails have poured in along with countless calls. Jesus said, "If you save your life you will lose it but if you lose your life for my sake you will find it". That is what we have been experiencing here at the Coffey house. Frederick Buechner wrote,"All the death in the world when held next to life would scarcely fill a cup".
Dad keeps improving. The love of the family of God keeps pouring in. When my dad gets out of the hospital my brother and I will tell him all the stories of how many people loved him and we will raise a glass and toast, "Here's to Roland, our dad, the richest man in town". And then he will walk through the door from my house to his with a smile on his face knowing that every sacrifice was worth its weight in gold.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The Richest Man in Town
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5 comments:
you all have been in our thoughts and prayers!
Your dad has riches where moth and rust do not destroy. A glorious inheritance awaits when his final breath eventually comes. So glad that God, in His mercy has decided to delay that for a little while.
I cry too after that movie. Events like your dad's, while tough, really do provide blessings, don't they?
DM
u r Right señor... we r all pulling for u and ur family!
Thank you Pastor Joe, for teaching us all even through your Dad's walk back to restored health of where the "true riches" in life really exist.
When we face these challenging events in life and we see that this life is but a mist in the morning compared to eternity, we then cherish each moment, each day with our loved ones.
My wife and I went a bike trek through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park yesterday witnessing a blase of the most spectacular autumn colors at this time of year. I stopped and looked at all the beauty of creation from our Creator Father in Heaven and silently said, "How Great Thou art", how "rich" I am to behold this valley!
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