Clyde’s Corner—This and That

Realizing that ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

by Clyde Whitaker

[Editor’s Note: Welcome to Clyde Whitaker, our newest SCN columnist. Whitaker has developed quite a following on social media, and enjoys sharing his thoughts, and often photos, from his years as a Stockbridge native.]

The movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” has been viewed by almost everyone, I would guess. It is a true classic Christmas story that has survived the test of time. A man, George Bailey, is always chasing something out of his reach, when all the time he had everything that he ever needed — a beautiful wife, children and people who loved him.

Well, my friends, after watching this movie twice the other night (I fell asleep the first time!) it got me thinking…what if each one of us had never been born?

For myself, my four kids would never have been born. They all have contributed to our society. They’re good people, hard workers, respectful. Grant was our youngest child, and he was killed in the line of duty Dec. 7, 2014.

In Grant’s short 25 years here on Earth, he saved the life of a drowning man who subsequently graduated from alcohol recovery school. He helped save a Michigan State trooper who was pinned down by a man he had pulled over. And he made countless other efforts at helping others to be better people.

If I had not been here to coach these past 30 years: I would not have had the chance to influence the lives of more than 300 kids in a positive direction. I kept kids on teams even if they had absolutely no athletic ability; I wanted to provide them with a sense of worth, a sense of stability and a purpose in their lives.

As coaches, we don’t coach because we want to win every game. We coach because someone before us took the time with us, helping mold us into better people, and we are just paying it forward.

So do you see my point?

These are just a couple of examples of how we can positively affect others by our caring, love and support. We are all different. Each one of us has our own talents unique to us.

The secret is to appreciate the gifts we have, our families and friends—the gift of life.

In closing, I would say this: Let’s be like George Bailey and come to the realization that
“It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Clyde Whitaker is a 1973 Stockbridge graduate. He and his wife, Mary, raised four children in Stockbridge, and they still reside in the Stockbridge area.