And You Thought You Knew the Cinderella Story?

And You Thought You Knew the Cinderella Story?

I grew up in Calcutta, India, where a fairy tale starts with the Bengali phrase “Onek din aagekar kothah” (“Once upon a time”). Both “Once upon a time” and “they lived happily after” have been part of the English oral narrative tradition for a few centuries. Oxford English Dictionary tells us that “Once upon a time” has been used since 1380.

One of my favorite fairy tales is about young Cinderella, suffering at the hands of her evil stepmother. There are over 350 known versions of this story. The oldest dates back to the first century BC, recorded by Greek historian Strabo about a Greco-Egyptian girl named Rhopodis. In a Chinese version, the heroine, Yeh-shen, is helped by a magical fish instead of a fairy godmother, and in the end, a golden shoe helps the prince find her. No matter the Cinderella story’s locale, almost all versions feature a heroine who is beautiful and kind, and a villain who takes the form of a cruel stepmother.

Having watched the Disney film time and again, and over many years, I have ascertained four things from the Cinderella story.

1.  Life is full of tragedies and suffering. We all experience times when it feels like we are walking barefoot, exposed and vulnerable, and in need of desperate help. Like Sleeping Beauty, we require a kiss of life to let loose death’s grip. Like Cinderella, we need a Fairy Godmother who will rescue us from life’s present challenges.

Every good fairy tale must have a magical moment. The Fairy Godmother is that moment for Cinderella. With a

flick of her wand, she provides Cinderella with beautiful clothes and a horse drawn carriage. In a single evening, Cinderella’s inconsequential life is woven into a wonderful world of possibilities.

Like Cinderella, we do not deserve such magical moments. We long for them, but cannot earn them. The Bible reveals to us something extraordinary in the midst of this reality. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, thro

ugh faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Even though we deserve nothing, those who follow Christ are given, free of charge, a magical moment with endless reward.

2.  Whether stated or unstated, even a child feels a tug-of-war between right and wrong, knowing in his heart that the loving act is the one that ought to be done.

In the Cinderella story, my two daughters’ most revere the Cinderella and Prince characters, and I don’t blame them, as I never liked the wicked stepmother and stepsisters.

Even so, when I reflect on how I might have treated Cinderella had I been the stepmother, I’m not entirely sure I would have let her attend the ball. The more I think about it, the more ashamed I am to admit that I could very well have been inclined to see my own daughters marry the prince instead.

Why is it, then, that universally everyone hates the stepmother and stepsisters, while still sharing some of their evil desires? Could it be that our inner consciences are responding to a universal principle that reflects the way we have been beautifully and wonderfully created, while our selfish tendencies are reflecting a break that has occurred in this universal principle of love?

There is nothing new about God wanting people to love one another. Leviticus 19:18, in the Old Testament, states: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

In the New Testament, John 13:33-34 asserts, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

“How does one measure time?

No, not in day, months, or years.

It is measured by the most precious of all things: Love.

Without which all beings and things,

whether brave and/or beautiful, would perish.

– Traditional Irish Blessing.

 3.  I am glad that there are some unchangeable truths that undergird our lives.

In the 1697 French version of the Cinderella story, Charles Perrault may have confused “vair” (French for “fur”) with “verre” (French for glass). Now, we have Cinderella wearing glass slippers.

After midnight, everything the Fairy Godmother magically created for the ball turned back into its original condition. The carriage turned back into a pumpkin, the horses into mice, the couchman into a horse, and the footman into a dog. How then, did Cinderella’s glass slippers not change when the clock struck twelve? As soon as the Prince discovered it, he went searching relentlessly for its owner.

The Bible talks of many things that do not change, neither yesterday, today, nor tomorrow. Consider Jesus’ parable of the Lost Sheep.

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it,             he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:1-7).

Jesus’ love for us will never change. He will search high and low until he finds and brings us home.

4.  I admit that I am attracted to a God of grace, who commands that I love and who promises to search for me if I ever go astray. Even more, I am captivated by His perfect timing, and by His ways that are higher then my ways.

I shudder to think about what might have happened had the pumpkin carriage not arrived at the right place and the right time, as the clock neared midnight. How would you have felt had you been Cinderella, standing there in front of everyone while your beautiful gown turned to dirty rags.

I find God’s plan of salvation to be like a beautiful carriage, appearing at the right place and at the right time. Galatians 4:4 puts it this way: “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son.”

Jesus offers us his help and guidance. He came to us, and today he waits for us, always in the right place and at the right time.

 Now Are The Days Fulfilled

Now are the days fulfilled,

God’s Son is manifested,

Now His great majesty

In human flesh is vested.

Behold the mighty God,

By Whom all wrath is stilled,

The woman’s promised Seed—

Now are the days fulfilled.

Now are the days fulfilled,

Lo, Jacob’s Star is shining;

The gloomy night has fled

Wherein the world lay pining.

Now, Israel, look on Him

Who long thy heart hath thrilled;

Hear Zion’s watchmen cry:

Now are the days fulfilled.

Now are the days fulfilled,

The child of God rejoices;

No bondage of the Law,

No curses that it voices,

Can fill our hearts with fear;

On Christ our hope we build.

Behold the Prince of Peace—

Now are the days fulfilled.

- Author Unknown