It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a season for hope, gratitude, and reflection on the powerful difference one life can make. Few stories capture that spirit better than Frank Capra’s 1946 classic film, It’s a Wonderful Life.
The film tells the story of George Bailey, an everyman with big dreams who consistantly puts his plans on hold to help others in need. When his elderly uncle misplaces a bank deposit from the family business, a desperate and overwhelmed George contemplates the value of his life, eventually coming to believe that he is worth more dead than alive (Enter Clarence!)
Inspired by George’s revelation, we asked ourselves a similar question: What would life look like for Missouri families if Lutheran Family and Children’s Services (LFCS) had never existed?
It’s a chilling thought.
When the Safety Net Disappears
In this imagined world without LFCS, the consequences are immediate and heartbreaking for vulnerable children and families across Missouri.
Safe Homes Left Behind
Picture a child needing emergency placement after abuse or neglect. Without LFCS’s foster care services, the network of caring, well-trained foster families we recruit, and support would be gone. That child, instead of finding comfort and stability, might languish in a state office or be moved far from home, prolonging their trauma.
Compassion Taken Away
Think of a young woman facing an unplanned pregnancy—frightened, uncertain, and alone. Without LFCS’s free, confidential pregnancy support, she would have no nonjudgmental space to explore her options or access ongoing support. The courage and love we celebrate in birth parents would be replaced by isolation.
Children Struggling for Support
Now imagine a middle schooler battling intense anxiety after a family crisis—or a teenager sinking into depression. Without LFCS’s accessible counseling and wellness services, their path to healing would disappear. That young person’s potential would be dim without the professional guidance they need to recover and grow.
Parents Without Guidance
Imagine a parent struggling to navigate the challenges of raising children—overwhelmed and unsure where to turn. Without LFCS’s parenting services, families would lack the tools, guidance, and encouragement needed to create nurturing, stable homes, leaving children without the benefits of confident, informed caregiving.
The Wonderful Reality We Build Together
Thankfully, this bleak vision is only a story—a “world without LFCS” that will never come true. Because, like George Bailey’s return to Bedford Falls, we see the difference that hope, and compassion make every day. Because of our dedicated supporters, volunteers, and staff, LFCS continues to be there for those who need
us most. You are all Clarences, guiding families back toward hope and helping us make sure that safe homes, compassionate counseling, and strong foundations never disappear.
As you look toward your year-end giving, help us keep this “wonderful life” promise real for Missouri children and families. Click here to donate. For more information, please visit our website or [email protected]