Day 7: Earning Your Wings

For day 7, Collins talks about Angels and their significance in the Christmas story. They carry the message from God. Many people hold the belief that angels are always watching out for us.

"Perhaps one of the best modern and easy-to-understand examples of angelic behavior can be found in the Hollywood classic, It's a Wonderful Life. Though not a financial success when originally released in 1947, over time this Jimmy Stewart film has become a most beloved treasure of the Christmas season. The world's adoration for this movie is in large part because of its theme that each of us has the power to change the world. The movie shows that by just being here and taking part in our day-to-day lives, we make the world a very different place than it would have been if we had never been born."

"In It's a Wonderful Life, the angelic figure is somewhat of a misfit. On the surface he seems nothing like the graceful, wise, and beautiful creatures described in Scripture. Yet perhaps director Frank Capra portrayed Clarence this way to give us a clear look at the sotry's real angelic role model."

"When a bumbling Clarence reviews George's life, showing him how different the world would have been without him, we discover that George is a man who reached out to help the least of those in his world. George's faith and sacrifices blessed others. Even though he didn't recognize it, that was why his life was so wonderful. In a real sense, George reflected the tru meaning of Matthew 25:40: "Whatever you did for the least of these... you did for me.""

"Discover the real joy in serving others. Volunteer with your family to spend a few hours at a soup kitchen or at a clothing or food drive... Show your appreciation to those who provide a service to you and others all year long. Everyone needs to feel appreciated. Take a snack to a group of workers. Many stores are so crowded during the holidays that employees barely have time for a break. Your thoughtfulness in providing a batch of holiday treats spreads the joy of the season."

"As Christmas draws near; begin now to become the messenger who trumpets this season to everyone around you. You can be that special person who brings the spirit of the holidays to life. You can live out Matthew 25:40. Not only will your holidays become brighter, but you may decide to continue this positive attitude in the New Year. Those who have known the true joy of giving find that they too have been blessed with a wonderful life. And isn't that really what we all want for Christmas and beyond?"

The tip for today is to take the time to focus on one section of Scripture during this busy season. Collins suggests to keep a bible out and open to Matthew 25:34-40 as a reminder of the important mission we have, during the holday season and throughout the entire year.

Merry Christmas!!