B7

Barbara Watling - Just a Little Light

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I came across this little story I had written and thought I would share it with you (just for a change). It will have to be spread out over two or three weeks, though. Hope you like it.

We are going to take a look at a very familiar fairy tale. You may think this is no place for a fairy tale, but there is a message to be found within. We know that fairy-tales are just imaginary but it is possible to learn from them. For instance, these stories often reflect the battle going on inside each one of us. They reflect the desire for our "good" side to conquer the dark side in us. Most fairy tales have a good guy and a bad guy, and usually have a happy ending.

Let's take a look at one in particular. Cinderella, or Cindy for short. Cindy was beautiful, but she had a problem! In fact, she had three of them ... her wicked step-mother, and her two step-sisters. Poor Cindy! She not only had to do all the work, she had to put up with their taunts and jeers, and if that wasn't bad enough, they did everything to hinder her in getting her work done. It would be understandable if she had a "poor me" attitude. She had a right to feel sad, mad, bad, inferior and all the rest.

Now, not all step-mothers are wicked and not all mothers are perfect! In fact we're all a mixture of both good and not-so-good. I know I have failed lots of times, just as much in one as the other. Having married a widower with four children and then adding five more to our family, I can speak with some authority on this. They say you learn by your mistakes. Guess what — it's true! But, in spite of our imperfections, mothers were God's idea. In fact, families were God's idea.

The point is that the ugly step-mother and her daughters in this story reflect the dark side of human nature, ie. selfishness, greed, a me-first attitude and so on. Poor Cindy must have often said "poor me!" Life was very unpleasant for her — that is, until word came that the Prince was having a ball and everyone was invited! But Cindy's excitement was short-lived. Her step-mother saw to that. She made it quite clear, there would be no ball for Cindy.

Enter one fairy-godmother. Cindy got to go to the ball, where she met her Prince Charming. She was having the time of her life — so good that she forgot her promise to be back before midnight. The grandfather clock in the palace counted down the hours, nine, 10, 11, 12! But the beautiful girl and her handsome prince danced on, lost in the magic of the moment. "Twelve o'clock! Oh dear me!" Suddenly the young girl took off, leaving a bewildered prince to ponder her disappearance. As she ran to her coach, she stumbled, losing her glass slipper.

Next scene: The Prince sends out his men to find the other slipper and its owner. Cindy is tucked away safely in her attic room while the step-sisters try to force the tiny slipper on their big feet. (A bit like trying to put Niagara in a bottle)

Meanwhile, up in her room, Cindy thinks of her wonderful prince. "But I'm only a poor servant girl. The prince wouldn't want me," she cries. Then a still, small voice whispers: "Cindy, you have the other slipper! The Prince is looking for you!" Now, Cindy has a choice! She can stay in her pitiful room and have a pity party, or she can go down and claim what is rightfully hers. You know the happy ending. Self pity was left behind with the cobwebs and Cindy found her Prince Charming!

(Next week: "The Cinderella Complex")