I’ve never been one to get caught up in fairy tales. Perhaps it was because we were a low income family and books were a luxury that we could not afford. So, I don’t remember my parents reading any fairy tales to me. There is one story that I do recall some details of and that is the story of Cinderella. I remember she had a wicked step-mother and two step-sisters; they tried to elevate themselves by degrading Cinderella. She was lowered to servant status within their home. She was beautiful, and they were very jealous of her. If they could keep her in a lowly servant position, no one would discover just how beautiful she was. No matter how cruelly they treated her, she responded in kindness.
One day, the King declared that he was going to have a Royal Ball and everyone was invited. The wicked step-mother and her daughters prepared for the ball. The night came and off they went in their beautiful new dresses, leaving Cinderella behind. As she lay on her straw bed crying, a fairy godmother appeared and told her she would be going to the ball after all. She changed Cinderella’s old rags into a beautiful gown and adorned her with jewels, as well as an eye-catching pair of glass slippers. She then turned a pumpkin into a royal carriage and four mice into royal stallions to pull the carriage, to deliver Cinderella to the ball. The fairy godmother said, “Cinderella, you must remember one thing. When the clock strikes midnight, you and the carriage will return to what you were, so be sure to leave the ball before midnight.”
As she entered the ballroom of the grand palace everyone turned to look at her; she was beautiful. No one knew her, but they were all mesmerized by her. She caught the eye of the prince and he asked her to dance. They danced all night. The wicked step-sisters were jealous of this beautiful young woman who had captured the attention of the Prince; even they did not recognize her.
Suddenly, the clock began to chime and Cinderella realized that it was about to strike twelve mid-night. She ran from the ballroom and down the cascading stairs of the Palace, as she was running she lost one of her glass slippers. She leapt into the carriage and off they went. She arrived home and suddenly she was back in her ragged clothing, and the carriage and horses were once again a pumpkin and mice.
He ran after her, picking up the glass slipper as he ran. This young woman had captured the heart of the prince. He was in love and determined to search the countryside until he found the beautiful young women whose foot fit that glass slipper. He and his attendants searched and searched. They came to the house of the wicked step-mother. He bent down to place the slipper on each of her daughters; they tried desperately to force their foot into the slipper, but it would not go. The prince looked up and saw Cinderella peering around the doorway from the kitchen and asked if she would try on the glass slipper. She came and sat before him, placing her foot in front of him. He gently took the slipper and slid it on her foot–it fit!
He scoops her up and places her on his horse and they ride off toward the palace where they marry and live happily ever after. THE END.
“Recognize that there is no one else like you and learn to accept yourself for what God has created in you ” (Priscilla Shirer, And We Are Changed, pp. 127-128).
Cinderella had an inner and outer beauty that radiated from her, even when she was in rags and down on her knees mopping floors. She was special and the prince recognized that in her. He saw that there was something precious and uniquely different about Cinderella.
vLadies, you have caught the eye of the Prince. Your Prince, Jesus Christ, recognizes something precious and uniquely different in you. God created you to radiate Him, His beauty, and His character.
Unlike Cinderella, you were not fashioned and designed by a fairy godmother, but by the One and only Creator of all the universe; the Lord of All and Over All. You are of great value to Him.
The TRUTH is that you were created in His image, He loves you, and you are extremely precious in His sight. Claim the truth! Believe it!
“Our problem isn’t so much a poor “self-image” as it is a “poor God-image” (Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Lies Women Believe, p. 71).
What keeps you from believing that you are beautiful and precious to God?
“When you become secure in who you are in Christ, you can then stop wasting your time being jealous or envious of another” (Priscilla Shirer, And We Are Changed, p.127). Then and only then, will you be free to be the beautiful creation He has made you to be.
Ladies, one day there is going to be a Royal Ball, the King has issued the invitation and the Prince is awaiting your arrival. You will enter the Ballroom of the Grand Palace of Heaven and dance for all of eternity–His creation, His beauty, His bride, His Cinderella!
Prayer:
Whisper a prayer asking God to help you overcome the lies you have believed about yourself and to help you see the beautiful creation He made you to be, formed in His image.
dianne