It’s a Wonderful Life…what about Mary? December 14, 2011
I am sure the one of the first things people often say about the movie is how genuine, real, and just how awesome George Bailey is, and…..it is true. He has outstanding character qualities that many men can relate to, but have you ever paid attention to the character of Mary?
Do you remember the way Mary paid respect to George in their kinda backwards courting attempts? Even as a child she softly whispers in his ear her affections, knowing he couldn’t hear her. Or how about the way her face simply radiated and her smile reached from ear to ear each time she was in his presence.
I love the scene where she is home from college and seeing George for the first time in a long while. She wasn’t blatant or too forward, she gently put on a remembered song and purposefully placed the memorable moon drawing in sight.
I am reminded of 1 Peter 3:3-6 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel, rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
What would you want to do on your honeymoon? Go off together for the most amazing first night completely embodying the moment, or give all your money away realizing you now have no place to go and no money to do anything. Not to mention the security of your husband’s providing is in the balance…to say the least. Mind you, without resentment or fear just a willing heart.
Then, what does she do? With ingenuity, creativity, and a true spirit she completely comes up with a cost-free honey moon to surprise her new husband
Don’t miss the shear beauty of the ending of the movie. George was angry and throwing his fit at his family and each and every move by Mary is with restrain, dignity, and RESPECT towards her husband. She didn’t yell back at him when he left nor did she storm and shout good riddance? Immediately she seeks out a way to help him and remain by his side. Look….I mean SEE what she does. Can you imagine her heart when she learns from Georges uncle what the real issue was? Again….how does she respond? She pursues any way she can to HELP her husband, she is without anger, only solution towards the betterment of their US.
I am simply in awe…..I have so much to learn from Mary. I have NOT responded to life like Mary, but it is time to learn.Through tenacious seeking and insurmountable prayer, He CAN transform me into a 1 Peter 3 girl.
I finally reached the point where I understood that it takes a daily surrendering at His feet to make it in this life. Yet…..I have this tendency to come to Him in complete surrender with a pure heart and then it doesn’t take me long to stand up grab back the reigns and go MY WAY! If I am to ever attain this life…..this exceedingly extraordinary life in Christ then I cannot simply surrender in the morning. I HAVE TO LIVE AT THE FEET OF JESUS…NOT simply surrendering, living life out at His feet! 
Can I do it? Can you or are you? Due share! What beauty can bring from a gently, quiet spirit, with unshakable faith in Christ. Now that…..is an exceedingly extraordinary woman of Christ.
Redeemingcarolyne's Blog 
I cna not see what I am writing. So if things are spelled weird that is why.
Any way Whar you wrote is so beautiful. Mary is definately a wonderful wife who is in life with her
husband through good and bad. The merciful quite, gentle spirit. It is obvious that she is letting
one more stronger than she lead. Only with God can we let go of our human nature to be mad and
stew on our own feelings when hurt. Especially when the kids are involved. You could do a whole talk and
and lesson for moms and wives on this. It is so Wonderfully written. I will share your thoughts with
others. Let me strive to be like Mary to my husbaned ALL THE TIME not just when I am getting my way.
I love you much, and will call you soon to look at calandars together. Merry Christmas.
Yeah…that is a good point. NOT just when I am getting my way or things are actually going peachy. Can I be like Mary when things royally stink? ONLY with God…I am soooo NOT capable!!!!
Thank you so much Lena!
Carolyne
I wanted to share with you
how God used this movie
for me just recently too.
This one was as we say
good bbye to our daddys
here on earth. Nancy Kolbs
Dad just passed away a
couple of days ago. I sat down
to send her a letter. As I wrothe
her I was telling her how
sad I am for her, and how
glad I am that her 96 yr old dad
is now in heaven celebratoing.
Then I remembered the sermon
Pastor Phil gave this pass Sunday
He spoke aout ou Eternal Father.
He shared how his 6 yr old
daughterr on more than one
occassion has asked a Sunday schoolteacher o” If God created everything, then who
created God? ?” only to have them
respond “Great ? upi sjp;i;d ask your dad. Anyway It made me think of hte scene in Its a wonderful llife where George is working for
the drugest and his son has just been killed at war. He had been drinking too much and grieving . He gives George poisen instead of the correct medication for a customer. Gerorge doesn’t know what to do, until he looks up at a plaque on the wall that says go ask your Dad. Wow it then occured to me that no longer would Nancy be able to go ask her dad. I also had a moment thinking about my own dad, adn my girls
not being able to go to the earthly father that they so adore. Then the thoughts of so many who simply never know that dad. I was grateful for Pastor Phils sermon. He said we spend too much time on this earthly life and not enough on prerparing for our eternal life. that in the life we knnow it is hard for us to wrap our minds around that God our Father has no end , No one crated him. He is the omAlpha adn the omega. The beginning and the end. While we miss those who have gone on before us, we can be celebrating the hope we have that this is not the end. Heaven is our eternal home!!! So our Eternal Father is always near. So lets remember to Go Ask Dad. Our Father in Heaven. I apologize for all the misspelling and half hazaredness in this comment. I still can not see a thing I writing. I am sure it is one simple click of the button, but I do not know how to fix it. I love you lots, Lena
Oh my, you are so dedicated. Writing when you cannot see anything. You really made me think here! Don’t ask of your earthy father what ONLY your Heavenly Father can deliver!!!!!
You could have written your own blog on that one!
Blessings,
Carolyne
I watch that movie every Christmas season…and never looked at it that way. Never really SAW the incredible picture of a godly wife ‘Mary’ was to George.
Thanks so much for pointing me to another beautiful example of truth!!
love & hugs & prayers to you!
If my eyes were left to there own discernment they would see the wicked, the ugly, and be so judgmental. AMEN! That He gifts us the ability to SEE through His eyes…..it truly is a beautiful world.
Merry Christmas TO YOU!
I love this show and I love Mary. Such a quiet sweet spirit. We see this show every Christmas in Chicago near Wrigglyville at a theater on the big screen. I will watch it from a different perspective next week. Thanks for the insight to this special person. “Mary” Christmas!!
Awesome! On the big screen, with a group of like-minded people….that must be powerful. A gentle, quiet spirit is pretty much everything opposite of my human nature…..I have a lot of work ahead of me!
Merry Christmas Charleen!
Carolyne