LASSO THE MOON (It’s a Wonderful Life)

"What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word, and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down."

George Bailey "It's a Wonderful Life"

But young George Bailey soon discovered what we all do. Human love has its limits. 

To do the impossible - to pull Heaven down to earth - requires the much stronger Hand of God.

My friend Valerie would agree.

When it was first revealed that her heart was damaged beyond repair, she hoped for the best and tried not to think of the worst. 

The moon she wanted? To see her daughter marry, bounce her grandkids on her knee, and live out her days with her sweetheart. But was it too much to ask? She wasn't sure.

Because deep down, in every human soul, is a silent question only God hears. "Does God really love me enough to intervene?"

And since love is a two-way conversation, He answers us with a question of His own.

"What is it you want, my child? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word, and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down."

So we wait for a miracle, press a little closer, and dare ask, "OK, God. I want to believe, but how can divine love defy earth's limits?" 

Then Christmas comes around, reminding us how God already demonstrated an earth-shattering, Heaven-exploding love for us.

He took His Son, His One and Only Son, swaddled Him in human flesh, and laid Him in a manger.

Then God said, "Here you go, dear. I have lassoed the moon just for you."

"So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son." 

John 1:14, NLT

Heaven brought down to earth. 

Emmanuel, God is with us. Utterly impossible, yet forever true.

But that wasn't the only unexpected Christmas gift delivered to our friend, Valerie, this year.

One morning, she woke up and whispered, "I have a new heart! I can't believe it!”

It truly is a wonderful life.