Going My Way. Today

I love “It’s a Wonderful Life” for so many reasons. There is so much wisdom in it. It shows us even though we may have not reached all our goals yet, we can still have a meaningful, purposeful life. And our lives are exemplified when we show kindness, charity and compassion for others. This is how we achieve God’s grace and live forever.

About 30 plus years ago, I had a George Bailey moment. I just began teaching in one of the toughest schools in Brooklyn. I had one class that was particularly bad and uncontrollable. It was so bad that after one class I went into an empty room and prayed to God, like George at Martini’s bar, asking if I should stay in the teaching profession, please show me a sign.

I left the room and went to speak to a teacher about a subject matter, and when I entered his classroom, there were students that I had taught in an earlier semester and they greeted me with big smiles and warm, “Hi Mr. G”. At that moment, my fears were relieved and I had my sign.

Now, I’m not saying all my classes were perfect after that, but I had the confidence to teach for another 21 years, until I moved down to Hampton, VA. I did some substitute teaching here until the end of 2018.

My only hope is, like George Bailey, I have helped them in some way, not just in my subject matter (business), but with their difficulties, their choices and aspirations. And I pray I have enriched their lives as much as they have enriched mine.

It’s a wonderful life. Merry Christmas.