Blogging From A to Z - X is for Suicide

Welcome to the It's A Wonderful Blog's Blogging From A to Z April (2015) Challenge. For this challenge, I will post every day in April (except for Sundays) about topics related to the Frank Capra/Jimmy Stewart film, It's a Wonderful Life.

X is for Suicide:

Source: http://bit.ly/1Bx2CJt

George Bailey didn't think he could take anymore.

His dreams of travel were shattered. He didn't think he could get out of Bedford Falls. Uncle Billy lost an $8,000 deposit for the family business. He lost control of his emotions in front of his wife and children. He took his problems out on his daughter's teacher. His wife spoke harshly to him for the first time in their marriage.

Potter planted the idea. George went to him for help. Instead of helping him, Potter taunted him with the comment, "You're worth more dead than alive."

George was scared, but he was trying to deal with his problems. He was looking for a way to overcome them. But Potter, being the opportunist he is, kicked George when he was down and proved to be the proverbial straw. That straw broke George.

He leaves Potter, gets drunk, and proceeds to contemplate jumping off of the town's bridge.

The letter X can be a harsh letter. It is often used to cross things out, to remove mistakes, to negate what has been done. Suicide crosses out life. It negates what It's a Wonderful Life refers to as "God's greatest gift."

The problem is that those who contemplate suicide view themselves as mistakes to be removed. They view their personal mistakes as unrepairable and unforgivable. All of that is untrue.

I'm going to tap into my Christian side for a minute, so if that's not your thing, skip to the next paragraph. An X turned on it's side is a cross. Jesus died on a cross to pay for our sins. Sure you made mistakes. We have all made mistakes. But Jesus paid the ultimate price for it so we wouldn't have to. And he was fault-less. That's what love and sacrifice is all about. God sacrificed our son so we wouldn't have to sacrifice ourselves. George is sent a guardian angel - he is saved from suicide - because he prayed. I encourage you to pray, as well. Just like George, ask God to show you the way. He will.

If you aren't a Christian, you can pick it up here:

Whether or not you are a Christian, TALK to somebody. People like Potter are in the vast minority. Someone out there can help you. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Life can be hard but it's worth fighting for. So FIGHT!

Source: http://bit.ly/1jvLQPe