It's A Wonderful Life

Reflection on the life of John E. Jones

7/29/1928 - 01/21/2011

 

There may be a few of you here today that can remember going to the picture show to see Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed grace the silver screen in the Frank Capra production of “It's A Wonderful Life”. If you happened to miss the first release of that picture back in 1946 maybe you had a chance to see it a time or two since then.. either in the black and white or the colorized version. ...Whether on the big screen, the little screen, or even on your PC monitor there have been plenty of opportunities to see and enjoy this movie ...and to take-in its very strong, faith-filled message.

Most of you are familiar with the story line... Once upon a time there was a man named George Bailey who was much-loved, much-respected in the tiny town named Bedford Falls. Though no one would consider George Bailey to have been a prosperous man... you could see that he was indeed rich in so many ways. George's wealth was based on the fact that he had a caring wife whom he dearly loved. Then there was the rest of the family (the children... and yes, even Uncle Billy). George loved each of them... and they loved him deeply in return. Besides that... there were all of George's friends. Almost everyone in town loved George Bailey... for the good friend that he was. Life was good!

One day, some horrible trouble struck ole George Bailey and suddenly he thought his life was worthless. Forgetting all that he had, George became seriously despondent. Luckily, George's family and friends immediately sensed George's need for help so they quickly stormed Heaven with prayers. The prayers from loving, faith-filled family and friends soon reached Heaven and, in turn, a guardian angel was sent to assist George. When George Bailey cried out that it would have been better if he had never been born, Clarence,the angel-in-training, began to show him what life on earth would have been like if George Bailey had never been born.

After examining his life with the guidance of the angel and having seen what would *not* have ever been, George Bailey discovered that this life of his did make a difference to lots of people. George's existence in that small corner of the world had an unbelievable impact on those around him and he realized that God had truly graced him.

Filled with this knowledge, George resolved to face head-on the adversity that had just recently seemed to strip-all meaning from his life. In the end, George triumphed because he was strengthened by the strong love of his wife, family and friends. As Clarence reminded him, “no man is a failure who has friends”. When times were tough, his family & friends stormed Heaven with prayers for his well-being. When George received the power of prayer he could exclaim that his was “a Wonderful Life”!

Whether we knew this man as friend, or husband, or dad, or Papa or Uncle or Cousin ...or even as General ...John E. Jones had a lot in common with George Bailey... and he knew it. Through the years and probably with Heaven's help, John came to appreciate the breadth and depth of his Wonderful Life.

One of the terms of endearment assigned to John Jones is ...“the General”. Now, when most of us picture a General ...we see someone with lots of shiny medals on their chest. For a military general, these medals might designate significant accomplishments or victories. For “our” general, his medals depicted his true treasurers... his loves; that is, his wife, his children, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and the rest of the family ...as well as all of his dear, dear friends.

First of all... John often bragged (...to anyone who would listen) about how lucky he was to be married to the same loving woman for 60 years. His love for Helen seemed to grow with each passing year. In fact, John's last spoken words were about his undying love for his wife. God truly had graced John with a perfect “soul-mate”. John was truly blessed!

Adorning his chest ...and close to his heart ...are also the shiny medals depicting the rest of John's family. This includes his sons, his daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and brothers. The family reunions he hosted for this family over the years were memorable. John knew how to get us together and then throw a party. As you know, some folks have what they call “brag books” to show-off photos their kids, their kids' kids and their kids kids kids. John didn't need a “brag book” he wore these medals on his chest, close to his heart. At a “drop of the hat” John's eyes would light up and he would tell you stories about each of them. He would “puff-out his chest in pride” as John would do a little bragging about each of them.

This love was a two way street. The love that John gave was like “throwing bread upon the water” since it came back a hundred-fold. John's granddaughter Chrissy asked me to share with you a poem about her grandfather. This touching poem seems fitting and echoes the thoughts and love of grandchildren for their “Papa”.

TOGETHER, YET APART

Its got harder and harder
since the day you went away
but still people keep telling me
...everything shall be okay

I know deep inside
that it’s better up there
but we're not together
which makes it unfair 

 

Seems like yesterday
that we were together
then I opened my eyes
to realize “gone” means ...forever

It hurts and it aches
...its slicing my heart
for the rest of my life
we shall be apart

I’m waiting for the future
hoping to see
that when I die
You'll open up those gates for me

Having a Papa
with a heart made of gold
is my favorite treasure
which will never grow old

Family reunions
will never be the same
cause you’re not there with us
to be stronger I aim

Your favorite chair
is empty and cold
you need to come home
We need someone to hold

Now that you're gone
I have no-one to run to
Am I doing this right?
...please send me a clue

I don’t understand
the meaning of life
I can’t get this right
Keep getting in strife

Do you Know
How much we all love you?
Do you realize
How much I trust You?

You're Officially gone
But forever in my heart
You and me Papa
...together, yet apart

John Jones, Martha Jones, Helen Jones

Though John had a fairly large extended family ...and plenty of love to keep him warm, God also blessed John with many, many fine friends. These friends were also held close to John's heart and oftentimes he would brag about his friends. Good friends, faithful friends. Some of these friends were even made to feel as part of the family. Earlier you heard how John loved to throw a party for his family at reunions and anniversaries. Well... you should have witnessed the parties that he would throw for himself on his birthday each year. It was a great honor to even be invited to one of these parties.. even if he *did* throw it for himself. ...Good friends... faithful friends who loved him in return.

John had it pretty good (and he knew it) surrounded by a loving wife, a beautiful family and a flock of faithful friends. His truly was ...a Wonderful Life. He had been blessed. Today we celebrate *that* wonderful life (and rightly so)...but as faith-filled people we are called to realize that there is so much more that is prepared for us in the life to come. Our Lord speaks to us today through the Gospel of St. John when He assures us that something greater than this awaits us when He says, “In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” Friends, we *have* the blessed assurance that there is an EVEN MORE Wonderful Life waiting for us.

Saint Paul continues with this message in the second chapter of his First Letter to the Corinthians when he writes, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love Him." Quite frankly, quite simply we know that there is so much more ...even more beautiful and even more wonder-filled waiting for us in our eternal life to come. In *that* Wonderful Life, we trust that John will soon be reunited with his loving family and dearly-departed friends that went ahead of him.

All of this happiness and love that John enjoyed in *this* life, of course, will be nothing more than a “tiny drop in the ocean” compared to the true joy that awaits John and the rest of us in the promised New Life. *This* is our hope ...this is our prayer ...for John ...and for one another. Let us console another with these words of faith.

♪♫♪“...Until We Meet Again!”♫♪♫

Vaya con Dios!

Ruby the Wonder Dog

Ruby the Wonder Dog (our Chocolate Lab) is trained to gently wake up our son Tim every morning and *persuade* him to get out of bed. If gentle persuasion fails to move our "boy", Ruby quickly turns up the pressure and, in short order, manages to get Tim to put his feet on the floor. The ritual always begins with kisses and nuzzling ...but usually ends with friendly growling and playful nips, escalating in intensity ...until the desired result is achieved. Like a canine with OCD (Obsessive Canine Disorder), our beloved watchdog anxiously waits each morning for the command from her master to "...Wake Tim!!!".

Since Ruby seems to have issues distinguishing non-work days from work days, this dog goes stir-crazy on weekends and holidays as if to ask, "Did you *forget* to tell me to wake Tim?" Our lab will stand ready at the base of the stairs each morning, waiting for the special command to be issued. Whenever those words do not immediately come, this dog will try to get her master's attention by quickly looking at me and then looking up the stairs towards Tim's room and then looking back to me... waiting for “the word”. Truly, this animal is a “creature of habit”. On rare occasions when Tim is urged to “rise and shine” while Ruby is still outside for her morning constitutional ...and has not yet had a chance to perform her daily duty, Tim will react by advising, “Call Ruby ...and have *her* wake me up!” 

...Talk about “creature of habit!”.

This video of faithful dog versus stubborn sleeper has been on the internet for quite some time and one would have thought that by now the ritual would have become old hat for Ruby or Tim ...but the tradition continues.  In fact, now Ruby approaches her master after Tim is out of bed for a "pat on the head" for a job obviously well done. 

Some people like to start their day with a cup of steaming, aromatic coffee... others prefer to greet the day by having their face washed with doggy kisses.
...My personal preference is coffee!

(Please click the PLAY button on the video below to see "Ruby the Wonder Dog" in action.  ...You may want to push the PAUSE button on the IPOD in the right column before viewing this video).