Reece Gardner: Faith and hope, even during trying times

One of my favorite movies of all times is "It's A Wonderful Life." The message in this movie is timeless - it never grows old. It is all about love, hope, and courage, as well as about despair and tribulation. It seems appropriate that it is featured mainly during the Christmas season because it in many ways reflects the Christmas message about the importance of living life with faith and hope, even during trying times. 

It also offers us an opportunity to reflect on events of the year now ending. Maybe someone has hurt or offended us in some way during these past months. If so, let's take this opportunity to forgive and to go into the new year thinking positively about ourselves and others. In my Dale Carnegie Seminars over the years, it has always been revealing to hear class participants talk about mistakes of the past and about their desire to make things better in the future.

We can learn so much by listening to others, and by trying to see things from the other person's point of view. Whenever possible, let's try to talk in terms of the other person's interest, because that's what that
person is most interested in. 

As I mentioned in a previous column, it is amazing how understanding we can become when we really learn what the other person is going through. I hope this Christmas has been good for you and that it ended with hugs and expressions of love. An expression of love can be very disarming. It is difficult to be in a tug of war when one person let's go of the rope. Life moves on and things of the past become memories. It is up to us to live our lives today so that those memories can bring us comfort in the future. It means a lot to me to be able to look back over the past and re-visit those precious times with My Emma and our children, and our many close friends.

I would like to close our Column, as I once did before, with this prayer:  Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy; Help me to seek not so much to be consoled, as to console; To be understood, as to understand; To be loved, as to love. 

For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. And it is IN DYING that we ARE BORN to eternal life.

God bless you!