Life is Beautiful.

The other night I stayed up into the wee hours of the night and watched "Life is Beautiful." I had no idea what it was about going in. I had no expectations, just decided to watch a movie on Netflix that I'd been wanting to watch for some time.

It started out so goofy and innocent. I loved it so much--so goofy and silly and happy and a little absurd in a really good way. I loved everything about it.  {If you haven't seen it, go watch. Now. I'm going to spoil it for you now }

The story takes place someplace in Italy during WW2. The main man, Guido, is a very happy guy, and he's determined to be with his Princessa, some random woman named Dora that he met because she fell off the roof of her house, or something like that. She literally fell onto him, and from then on he kept running into her (sometimes intentionally, sometimes not) in the most random and ridiculous locations. Because of his genuine love and joy, he eventually wins her over and they have a son, an adorable little guy named Joshua. He's half Jewish, because his father is Jewish. His mother is not, however.

They run a little book store in the town, and all three bike together into town each morning on a single bike {yep, one bike for three people. wowza.} One day, on the little boy's birthday, the police come for Guido and his son. They take them away to be shipped to a concentration camp. As soon as Dora finds out, she runs to the train depot and demands to be let on board. The police can't understand why a non-Jewish woman would demand to be let onboard a train bound for a work camp, but they grudgingly oblige. Of course, they couldn't understand the love of a mother and wife for her most beloved, cherished people.

Not wanting his son to understand the complexities and horror of their situation, the father makes everything a game. He tells him they are going on a birthday adventure trip, and that if he doesn't let anyone see him, he can earn points each day. If he earns 1,000 points before anyone else, he'll win a real tank {you see, this little boy dreamed of having his very own tank}. Although their situation was horrifying, the father continued to give everything so that his son could be happy. He spent every day protecting him, pushing aside his own fear for the welfare of his son. Every single day. 

Such incredible love. Such incredible determination and strength and love juxtaposed amidst the most horrendous of situations. I think it's the stark juxtaposition that gets me the most. His love is so apparent, in every word, in every action, in every thing.

I could go on and on and on about the movie, I really could, but I'll skip to the part that really hit home for me. Finally, after who knows how long, the camp is about to be liberated. The camp officials try rounding up all of the prisoners, and Guido knows that now he must go and find his wife before she is killed. Continuing the game, he tells his son to hide in a sweatbox in order to earn the final points to win. He tells him that if he doesn't come back until really late, Joshua must wait until there is absolutely no noise before he leaves. Guido then disguises himself as a woman and runs off in search of his Princessa. He doesn't make it however, and before you even understand what's happening, his life is gone. He sacrifices his life in pursuit of saving her own. Such incredible love.

Morning eventually comes, as do American forces. Joshua sheepishly opens the door of the sweatbox after a night of terror and fear. . . he cautiously walks out, and looks around. Suddenly, American troops in a real, full-sized tank pull up, and bring him aboard. His father was right, he received the prize he had worked so hard for.

When the little boy runs to his mother, finally, my tears started, and they didn't stop. I sobbed harder than I ever have in my entire life. I couldn't stop thinking about the Atonement of Christ. I couldn't stop feeling love and gratitude. I couldn't stop feeling like I owed so much to Him, and like I'd been failing Him, making light of His TRULY miraculous gift. Like the father in Life is Beautiful, he gave ALL for his beloved son and wife. He gave his life, his strength, his love, so that they could go on living. He sacrificed ALL for the life of those who meant the world to him. He gave his life, and he gave up his life, for those who mean the world to him. He gave his life so that his cherished son could continue to live a life of happiness, so that he could live to be reunited with his mother once again, even if it meant his own death.

We are the wife, and the son. And the father is our spiritual father, Christ. And His love is so apparent, in every word, in every action, in every feeling of peace, in every answered blessing, in every creation, in every thing. He gave ALL for those who mean the world to Him--Us. You. Me. Your brother, sister, niece, nephew, mother, father, grandparent, daughter, son, your alcoholic neighbor, the mentally and physically ill, the severely depressed, the bedridden, the homeless man down the street, the lady who cussed you out in the parking lot, the friend who broke your heart. Us. Everyone.

He gave up ALL so that we might LIVE, now and in eternity.

Because of Christ, Life can be Beautiful.

Please don't forget it. Life IS Beautiful, sometimes it just takes a little looking and courage to see it.