Ashes Back to Ashes?
Cinderella has been rescued by her Prince. She dreamed her whole life that someone would come and release her from scrubbing the floors, being holed up in the attic, and the nagging of her demanding stepmother and jealous stepsisters. But more than anything she longed to be loved and adored. To be considered beautiful in someone's eyes. She had found this in her beloved Prince.
The wedding was beautiful. No expense was spared. She had the finest of the fine. The prince's Father and mother adored Cinderella and welcomed her into their family with open arms. Our palace is your home. We have been waiting for a daughter to come into our kingdom and assist the prince with many decisions. This is your time, Cinderella. Whatever parts of living in the palace seem foreign to you simply ask and we will help you. Everything you need is here.
After living in the palace for several months Cinderella began to question how she could ever live up to the expectations that she felt were upon her. She remembered where she had come from and began to believe that truly the Prince had made a mistake in marrying her. She was not cut out for life in a palace. She didn't know what pieces of silver to use when she ate, the clothing seemed too lavish for her, the language of the kingdom was difficult to comprehend.
Without consulting the Prince or his parents she made a decision. She would remain married to the Prince and visit the palace periodically. She would, however, live in her old dwelling place. One night, after everyone was sleeping she snuck out and made her way down the path to her stepmother's house. Quietly she crept up to the attic and crawled into her well-remembered bed. The blanket was as dirty as ever, the room cold and dark, the scrub brush and mop stood in the dusty corner... but this was familiar and strangely gave her a feeling of comfort. This is where she truly belonged....the Prince would understand.
The Prince however, did not understand. You are my bride, my love, my life...we cannot be apart like this. Everything you need is with me. What you don't understand, I will teach you. You have forgotten that it takes a lifetime to learn the ways of the kingdom. There is always something new with each daybreak. But we can face these things together. Not knowing something does not disqualify you as my Bride...
Somehow Cinderella had stopped believing that the Prince's love was enough. What if he realized that he had chosen with a lack of wisdom? What if she proved to be a great disappointment? It was better not to fail Him. She suggested that she would be part of the kingdom and help from a distance. She would faithfully work FOR the Prince but relinquish the priveleges of working WITH him as his Bride.
Soon she found herself back in the daily routine of being harassed by her relatives, confined to her room and her duties. The Prince would often come by and knock on the door but Cinderella could not bear to open it. She was doing her duty as a member of the kingdom and that was enough. And yet she could not deny her longing to be free. She felt it rise and fall within her. Some days she glanced at the door and remembered the path to the palace. Should she? Could she? It was too shameful. She was not who or what the Prince thought she was.
The story of Cinderella we can all relate to. We have been rescued by our Prince, Jesus. He has brought us into His kingdom because of His great love for us. We have truly been called into the Kingdom for such a time as this. But many of us are living as captives. We are captives but we have the key to freedom around our necks!
BELIEVING is the key. If I don't believe that I am loved and accepted that is how I will live. I will live suspicious of others and their motives. I will not trust that Jesus truly paid the price....surely there is something I must do in order to stay in the Kingdom. I will believe that my failures and weaknesses change how He feels about me. That is why HE came! That is the Gospel! He is strong in our inadequacies. Any fruit that comes out of our lives that is lasting will be born out of our relationship with Jesus. Focus on Him and your "doing" will be true.
If in anyway, you've made decisions that have led you on a path to your old dwelling place, turn your little self around and run back to the palace. THat is where you belong....open your eyes and BELIEVE.
The wedding was beautiful. No expense was spared. She had the finest of the fine. The prince's Father and mother adored Cinderella and welcomed her into their family with open arms. Our palace is your home. We have been waiting for a daughter to come into our kingdom and assist the prince with many decisions. This is your time, Cinderella. Whatever parts of living in the palace seem foreign to you simply ask and we will help you. Everything you need is here.
After living in the palace for several months Cinderella began to question how she could ever live up to the expectations that she felt were upon her. She remembered where she had come from and began to believe that truly the Prince had made a mistake in marrying her. She was not cut out for life in a palace. She didn't know what pieces of silver to use when she ate, the clothing seemed too lavish for her, the language of the kingdom was difficult to comprehend.
Without consulting the Prince or his parents she made a decision. She would remain married to the Prince and visit the palace periodically. She would, however, live in her old dwelling place. One night, after everyone was sleeping she snuck out and made her way down the path to her stepmother's house. Quietly she crept up to the attic and crawled into her well-remembered bed. The blanket was as dirty as ever, the room cold and dark, the scrub brush and mop stood in the dusty corner... but this was familiar and strangely gave her a feeling of comfort. This is where she truly belonged....the Prince would understand.
The Prince however, did not understand. You are my bride, my love, my life...we cannot be apart like this. Everything you need is with me. What you don't understand, I will teach you. You have forgotten that it takes a lifetime to learn the ways of the kingdom. There is always something new with each daybreak. But we can face these things together. Not knowing something does not disqualify you as my Bride...
Somehow Cinderella had stopped believing that the Prince's love was enough. What if he realized that he had chosen with a lack of wisdom? What if she proved to be a great disappointment? It was better not to fail Him. She suggested that she would be part of the kingdom and help from a distance. She would faithfully work FOR the Prince but relinquish the priveleges of working WITH him as his Bride.
Soon she found herself back in the daily routine of being harassed by her relatives, confined to her room and her duties. The Prince would often come by and knock on the door but Cinderella could not bear to open it. She was doing her duty as a member of the kingdom and that was enough. And yet she could not deny her longing to be free. She felt it rise and fall within her. Some days she glanced at the door and remembered the path to the palace. Should she? Could she? It was too shameful. She was not who or what the Prince thought she was.
The story of Cinderella we can all relate to. We have been rescued by our Prince, Jesus. He has brought us into His kingdom because of His great love for us. We have truly been called into the Kingdom for such a time as this. But many of us are living as captives. We are captives but we have the key to freedom around our necks!
BELIEVING is the key. If I don't believe that I am loved and accepted that is how I will live. I will live suspicious of others and their motives. I will not trust that Jesus truly paid the price....surely there is something I must do in order to stay in the Kingdom. I will believe that my failures and weaknesses change how He feels about me. That is why HE came! That is the Gospel! He is strong in our inadequacies. Any fruit that comes out of our lives that is lasting will be born out of our relationship with Jesus. Focus on Him and your "doing" will be true.
If in anyway, you've made decisions that have led you on a path to your old dwelling place, turn your little self around and run back to the palace. THat is where you belong....open your eyes and BELIEVE.
posted by Yanna @ 12:58 PM
1 Comments:
At 2/26/2007 3:46 PM ,
Anonymous said...
My darling Princess -
What a beautiful masterpiece! You truly are talented and this is a timely reminder to all of us who serve in the Kingdom that we have been called to love the King, not serve from a distance. This will change my service from this day forward! I love you!
Your Prince
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