Monday, February 14, 2011

More Than a Fairytale

I've always enjoyed fairytales. A story of a handsome Prince. A beautiful Princess. Love sought. Romance. Purity. A time when just holding hands awakened feelings deep within. Eyes meet. Heart beats quicken. Pulses race. The unfolding of dreams. Simplicity. Royalty marrying commoner. Identities hidden. Position denied. Glass slippers cherished. Authenticity embraced. Honesty rewarded. Love found. The famous last words, "And they all lived happily ever after". I'm so thankful for their happiness, but the greater point is that they lived.

Often I wish I could crawl inside the pages of those fairytales. Life wasn't perfect. Hardships were everywhere. Damsels were in distress. Dragons needed slaying. Robin Hoods stole from the rich to give to the poor. Wicked witches poisoned apples and evil step-mothers imprisoned step-daughters. Yet, even within all the heartache, there was such passion. Passion to live. Passion to love.

Where are the Cinderella's of our day? Women who rise from adversity because they have been rescued from a life of slavery by the King of Kings? To borrow a title from Robert Munsch, sadly, too much of life is lived as the "Paper Bag Princess."

Circumstances steal our joy. Dragons smash our dreams and breathe fire to consume us. Our castles tumble. Breathing becomes our existence. Routine fills our day. Nothing excites us. We've lost our joy.

Life is meant to be lived. Christ came to give us not just life, but life to the full (John 10:10). Waking up every morning needs to overwhelm us with unexplainable delight. God has given us one more day. The Creator of the Universe meets with us a new each morning. Our Prince has rescued us. Royalty has married commoner. Vows pierced on a wooden cross. Promises made. Sin forgiven. We've been clothed in gowns of righteousness. A tiara of salvation adorns our head. The Kingdom is my royal inheritance. The Prince finds me lovely. I'm His choice for the first dance at the Grand Ball. His Hand is offered. I place my hand, my life, my trust in His.

One day, our Prince will come again.

Happy Valentine's Day Friends! Love to you all!

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8 comments:

susan said...

Happy Valentine's Day to you Joy! Thanks for your writings. I always look forward to reading your ponderings.

Kimberly said...

Beautiful, Joy!
Today I have been thinking of how often we sterilize His love for us, removing all of the passion from it! But His love is overflowing with passion! Today I want to soak in it, bask in it, BELIEVE in it!

So I totally appreciate and love your post here today!!!!
Happy Valentine's Day, friend! May you be totally swept off your feet by your Prince today! :)

Leah Adams said...

I cannot wait to see my Prince face to face. What an amazing time it will be.

Love this creative post, Joy!

Leah

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Beautiful heart rendering...

Finding myself on the pages of a storybook today, not my story... not today, but wishing it was. Alas, I've been given so much; God is so good and continues to shower that goodness over me, but today my heart aches, and I am weary.

Still and yet, he is good, and I know that soon my Prince will come and carry me over the threshold of my forever where weary will be no more and tears will run dry once and for all.

Love you sister.

peace~elaine
PS: Surgery scheduled for the 28th.

Unknown said...

Happy BELATED Valentine's Day to you. Wonderful post. Loved it.

Sheryl

Marilyn in Mississippi said...

This really touched me Joy! I know that I am guilty of letting life sometimes just "pass me by" while I'm wishing for something down the road! I pray that I will begin to enjoy and live each day to it's fullest!

Marilyn

Genny said...

Life is meant to be lived... I love that. This was beautiful!

I hope you are well, joy!

Hugs,
Genny

~Grace and Peace said...

Joy,
And the best part? The ending is the same: And they lived happily ever after. This time, it's forever.