Remember the classic movie shown every holiday season starring Jimmy Stewart called It’s a Wonderful Life? I can’t imagine how many times I’ve watched that movie over the years. I’m old enough to remember when it was shown every Christmas on one of the three (and only three!) television channels.
I always tear up during that final scene where the whole town comes to George Bailey’s (played by Jimmy Stewart) aid. While in his arms, his daughter Zuzu says the famous line:
Every time a bell rings, an angel gets their wings.
Remember that?
Well, I’ve decided that every time a writer writes, an angel also gets their wings. So many creative people with talent just don’t do anything with that talent. For whatever reason, they’re convinced what they have to say isn’t good enough or they don’t have the time or the motivation to get it done. And for good reason! We are the most distracted, stressed out humans in history.
Despite the obstacles, I feel so strongly that each of us, if called, needs to tell our stories.
I learned a long time ago that when I make writing about me, I was a hopeless neurotic. But when I make my writing about my readers and what my readers might enjoy, the heavens open up and I have more stories to write than I could possibly finish in my lifetime.
So think of what stories your future readers might need to hear. And think of the angels. They need us to write. They need to get those angel wings. And readers need your stories.
Are you willing to commit to writing one of your stories? If you don’t know what to write about, perhaps you could tell a family story that you don’t want to be forgotten. Or you could write about the first time you questioned the presence of angels in honor of this post. Questions? Comments? I’d love to hear from you.
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What a coincidence—My grandson and I were talking about sources of energy and we landed on lightning and thunder. I told him the story the nuns told me when I was about his age. “When you hear thunder, don’t be afraid, it’s only the angels bowling.” Lovely, calming theory, don’t you think?
Be an angel and write something today.
I love that, Mary! I wish my dog Emma could understand that. She’s a nervous wreck when the angels bowl!:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns-p0BdUB5o
🙂
Frankly, from my experience, every time a writer writes, a psychiatrist gets a downpayment for a new Bentley.
That’s been my personal experience, at any rate. 😉
You nut. And I say that affectionately.:)
This video is great. Just imagine it with writers!!
one of my very favorite movies! thanks to meeting YOU, dear friend, there is a whole choir of angels hovering over my house singing the heck out of the hallelujah chorus. I am writing every day, at least something, and that is a very big deal 🙂
That is wonderful, Wendy. It is truly music to my ears. 🙂
We once had a dog like Emma. Dad felt so sorry for her that he put a little milk in a bowl with a little sherry in it. She (her name was Magnolia Belle, Maggie for short) lapped it right up…and thereafter, thunderstorms passed more peacefully for our sweet, blonde girl.
Becky, Magnolia Belle is a great name for a dog, as is Maggie. She sounds like a sweet girl. I have never thought of milk with a little sherry in it to help Emma with the anxiety of bowling angels. Does that work with people, too?:)