I know that Christmas Day was over a week ago and even New Year’s Day has come and gone. But today, it is a Christmas movie that is still lingering in my thoughts.

The movie is one of my all time favorite Christmas movies “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I love this movie for so many reasons. I love the star of the film, Jimmy Stewart. I love the story, the characters and the setting. I especially love the message of the movie that every person’s life is important and has value. Each of us touch the lives of so many others often unseen and unknown to us.

But today, I am reflecting on the message this movie teaches about prayer. One of my favorite parts of this film is the very beginning where the people of Bedford Falls are praying for George Bailey. I love how the movie shows these prayers being heard in Heaven and then answered when Clarence the angel is sent to help George during his time of crisis.

I was impressed that these people did not just pray and then leave it to Heaven to help George. They prayed for God’s help and then did everything they could to help him on their own. It was not just Clarence the angel that was answering these prayers. He had the help of George’s friends and family.

I love this movie and the message that it shares. I know that just as Heaven heard and answered the prayers of the people of Bedford Falls, our Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers too.

I am grateful for this knowledge. I am grateful that I know that even when we are facing our darkest and most difficult times, we can pray and He will always be there to answer.

Sometimes these answers will come through angels sent from above and sometimes they will come through angels that we call friends.