And we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
What’s your favorite fairy tale? As in all good stories there is an underdog. Americans love to cheer for the underdog, the one who is least likely to win. Cinderella is an underdog story. Poor motherless child has to work and slave for her step mother and three wicked step sisters. Her sisters have fancy clothes and new hairdos for the ball. The prince has invited everyone to attend. Everyone has an invitation but no one is concerned that Cinderella doesn’t have the clothes to go. Everyone is keeping Cinderella busy cleaning the house and ironing their dresses and making sure they are ready to meet the prince. Off the sisters go to the ball leaving poor Cinderella home alone, ragged, dirty and heart-broken. At just the right moment, her fairy god-mother appears and provides all she needs. The pumpkin carriage with its mice horses sweep her away to the ball where she makes a grand entrance and captures the attention of everyone, especially the prince. What a dream come true night!
But the clock strikes midnight and the dream ends with Cinderella running down the steps where she loses a glass slipper. Seems now the prince is heart-broken. He searches the kingdom for the one whose foot fits the glass slipper. Cinderella’s house is the last one. The step sisters know the shoe does not belong to any of them but they try to force it on anyway. They want to marry the prince. At last Cinderella appears. The shoe fits! They ride away on the white horse and live happily ever after. This is every girl’s dream or is it?
As girls we seem to need a boyfriend. We want to get married as soon as possible. So, we buy clothes to attract a prince. We fix our hair to attract a prince. We try to fit whatever “shoe” the prince offers. We do not want to be an underdog.
Let’s take a step back and examine Cinderella. She serves others. She never seems to be angry but is most often disappointed. That doesn’t stop her from doing her job. Disappointment doesn’t make her bitter. She acts in a kind and considerate manner. Her heart is pure. She suffers much and waits patiently until her prince arrives. When HER prince arrives they ride off to live happily EVER AFTER.
The happily may be the fairy tale part. My guess is she and the prince probably had a few differences but “ever after” is the point. The prince waited for the right girl, searched for the right girl and finally married the right girl. Cinderella maintains her innocent heart, patiently waiting for the right prince to arrive. She did not settle for the first guy to come along. She didn’t try to attract boys. Neither did the prince settle for the first pretty dress. The prince waited until the shoe “fit”.
Though time drags and it seems the prince will never arrive, wait until the shoe fits. The marriage will be “ever after” with a few rough spots along the way.
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