I love stories – how they take me out of my brokenness into hope stories. Literature from the 1800s to the early 1900s was always my favorite – goodness pevails more often than not – stories end on hope and faith walked out more often than not. 20th-21st century literature isn’t that way – more often than not ignobleness wins, hope fails – and it just bottoms my heart out. We weren’t created for for hopelessness and faithfulness.
That’s why the hope and faith story is so important.
“If you want to change someone’s life, tell a story”
-Billy Graham
Fairy tales- I love them. My favorite is the Goose Girl. Fairy tales gave me hope growing up – that goodness prevailed, that I was not alone in my suffering – whether that suffering was caused by others or myself.
The Grim’s Brothers are not faint-hearted stories. They were required reading by me this summer for my youngest who doesn’t like reading. He was drawn in to the short and long stories, the guts and gore, the mind-puzzlers, the noble and ignoble. There is much in them for boys – but – there is much in them for us.
These fairty tale stories. I’ve decided many of them, like the Goose Girl – are about how God never abandons us or forgets us.
A few years ago, in The Goose Girl Unveiled, I wrote (I hope you don’t consider this cheating – but I really wanted to include it):
All fairy tale princess in the Kingdom face grievous challenges. Many have fathers, the king, or if they are no longer alive, they provide protectors who leave no stone un-turned, no effort exhausted. The princess is never forgotten nor is the pursuit lessoned to reclaim His child.
The Prince, much like the princess’s honorable father, often saves her, whisking her from the grip of torment, isolation, a false-sense of abandonment. The tormenters are destroyed – and she is returned to her rightful place in The Kingdom.
A true princess loses not her nobleness during these fierce challenges. She cries sometimes, feels saddened, feels lost. But she still acts nobly.
God is like that. He provides. He leaves no stone unturned. He never gives up. The fairy tale princesses are always provided for and their futures are secured. We really are not any different from those Grimm’s Brother Girls! We just think about ourselves differently – and that is what needs to be changed. Do you see yourself as God sees you?
We have our own fairy tale stories that need telling, stories of soul blood and guts, heart-break, injustice – but it is in the saving, the Knight in Shining Armor who is our Savior – for that we finish the story – read all the way to the end – worth enduring the suffering – because in the end, we are saved by the most perfect, faithful man who ever lived.
Some people might wish you’d just shut up. There are people like that.
But we’re called to tell our stories. Where philosophy, logic and history fail – real life stories of a real life KISA can encourage hope and faith.
Are you telling your Fairy Tale Story? It just might change someone’s life.
Beautifully written! I love the quote from Billy Graham. But, I most especially loved the excerpt from what you wrote a few years ago. It really drew me in to the story and I could picture myself as God’s princess. 🙂 Have a blessed day!
What an insightful post! I agree. We are so much like fairy-tale princesses, but we view ourselves differently. So thankful for our Heavenly King and Protector and can’t wait until we take our final places in his kingdom. Thanks for encouraging all of us to share our stories as well. God bless!
Love it, and No it’s not cheating, beautiful words!
Beautiful! Thank you fro sharing on FMF!
This is awesome! Love it!
Hi Bluecotton! I’m coming from Playdates.
I did a Story on that blog hop too, how did I miss you? Well, there are a lot of participants 🙂
Oh, our stories are so important. I don’t want you to shut up at all. I love stories. Sit right down, we’ll have some tea and swap them. You keep telling yours!
Happy Monday!
Ceil
Oh yes, I also thought that fairytales of princes saving the love of his life, were such a good example of our Lord Jesus saving His bride! My all-time favorite is Cinderella. I think those two stepsisters are such funny, yet pitiful characters.
Hugs XX
Mia
Your blog is simply lovely.
I am so happy that I stumbled upon it.
Blessings!
Sue
I’m holding this line in my heart today: “The princess is never forgotten nor is the pursuit lessoned to reclaim His child.” Thank you.
I love fairy tales too. Some day I’m going to read all the Grimm Brothers works. Have you read Women Who Run with the Wolves? A wonderful read for fairy tale lovers. I’m glad we already know the end to our tale. And it’s a happy one 🙂
“in the end, we are saved by the most perfect, faithful man who ever lived.” Amen!! Now that’s a perfect happy ending!!! Thanks for sharing.
Ann @ Christ in the Clouds
Dear Maryleigh,
You make a great point here about how God didn’t create us to live without hope or without faithfulness as He created us in His image…Hope your husband’s elbow surgery went well…I just watched Masterpiece Theater’s 3 episodes of Great Expectations…have you seen it? It was very well done.
[…] Happily Ever After? Right? I’m a Daughter of the King – and, like any princess in a fairy tale who has been kidnapped from her rightful place, saved after much suffering, and returned to the place she belongs – life resumes to a happily-ever-after rhythm. Right. . . . Right? […]