A Twisted, Backwards, Upside Down Cinderella Story

Inspired by the true words of Tabitha Beard, who while sitting on the toilet proclaimed, “I’m done, Cinderella!”

Everyone knows the story of Cinderella: endless chores, evil stepmother and stepsisters, fairy godmother, charming prince, and glittering glass slipper. While I can’t promise you’ll find all of these things in this particular story, just bear with me. Because this version of Cinderella, though at times slightly embellished for your entertainment, is true…

As the sun slowly began rising above the horizon, Cinderella struggled to open her eyes. Her stepsisters were up early this morning, screaming her name. She groaned and rolled over in bed, hoping that if she didn’t respond, they would give up and leave her alone. “Cinderella! Cinderella!” they yelled.

I know it’s early in the story, but I’m going to go ahead and change things up on you. You see, while the sisters in this story could be demanding at times, they were not your stereotypical evil stepsisters.

Cinderella pulled the covers over her head and tried to ignore them until a single question shattered her resistance. “Can we come in and snuggle?” they pleaded. With a sigh, she dragged herself out of bed and opened the door. The blonde, blue eyed beauties bounded into the room and began bouncing on her bed. Soon, a smile lit up Cinderella’s face and her frustration vanished. Time to start the day.

After a few pillow fights and some tickling, Cinderella walked into the kitchen. She looked up as she saw her stepmother. Of course, this is where you’re expecting the story to turn nasty as the stepmother looks down her nose at Cinderella to snidely give her a long list of chores. Right?

Wrong! Cinderella’s stepmother gave her a bright smile and a friendly “Good morning” as she flipped an egg frying on the stove. Not until they sat down to breakfast did Cinderella’s stepmother mention some of the things she would like Cinderella to do that day. Every one of them ended with a “please” or an “if you can.” Yet Cinderella inwardly groaned.

As she worked through her list of things to do, her stepmother often worked alongside her, replete with kind thank yous and expressions of gratitude. Nevertheless, there were times when Cinderella did not feel like washing dishes, sweeping, cooking, cleaning, and caring for two kids and a baby. However, this Cinderella could not blame a cruel stepmother or evil stepsisters for her woes. The problem came down to her. She was not a perfect Disney princess, and frankly, at times, she was lazy and selfish.

Contrary to common belief, though, what Cinderella lacked was not a fancy outfit or a trip to the ball. What she needed was some perseverance and the humble heart of a servant.

Based on other Cinderella stories, you’re probably expecting this to be the part where her fairy godmother swoops in to turn her life around. Well…I hate to break it to you, but FAIRY GODMOTHERS AREN’T REAL.

Cinderella did not need a flick of a wand or a bibbity bobbity boo, a temporary transformation that would fade away when the clock struck midnight. Yet she needed help. So instead of crying out to an imaginary fairy godmother, she knelt and prayed.

And the Lord changed her. As days turned to weeks, she learned to serve joyfully and humbly, to put the needs of others above her own. She strove to work with her heart and not just her hands. She ceased doing the minimum and sought to do all that she could. At times, she still had to fight her selfish nature, but each day, she could feel her old self slipping away. Her clothes were just as dirty (the baby liked to spit up) and her hair just as wild (did I mention that it was ridiculously curly?), but her heart was being made over.

Cinderella realized that being a princess isn't all about being swept off your feet. Sometimes it's about sweeping under someone else's. Being a servant. And still living happily ever after.

This Cinderella’s story may appear to have a very different ending- no ball, no glass slipper, and no prince (at least, not yet). But I assure you that her story ends just like that of any other Cinderella- with a life transformed. And because of God’s faithfulness, which far surpasses that of any fairygodmother, we can be certain that the changes in Cinderella’s heart will not slip away when the clock strikes midnight.

“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have only done our duty.’” Luke 17:10

What Words Can't Say

My pastor often poses the question, “If you couldn’t speak or use words to express yourself, would people know that you’re a Christian?” While this question provokes much thought, most people would not expect to find themselves in a position where they are forced to test it out. But since when do expectations equal reality?

Doubts filled my mind as we discussed our plans for the first day of Vacation Bible School. I looked around at the team for the day: two adults, two teenagers, an eleven year old, and not a single Spanish speaker. I wondered how on earth we expected to reach the kids with the gospel. It seemed like an impossible task. Determined that the day be successful, I immediately busied myself with studying the day’s lesson and songs. SOMEONE had to be able to speak Spanish.

By the time two o’clock rolled around, I was ready to go. I taught “This Little Light of Mine” and “Jesus Loves Me” in Spanish. I told the story of the wayward woman, who cried over Jesus’ feet and dried them with her tears. I asked the kids questions to make sure they understood. Overall, I was pleased with the way things went.

Then we broke into stations. Although Jon and I would be walking around helping with the Spanish, I was expecting chaos to ensue. But looking around, I realized that the team did not need ME to bring the gospel to the children. Although they could neither tell the children about the love of Christ nor share what He had done in their lives, their actions spoke more clearly than a thousand words. These women from my church wanted nothing more than to teach and hug and listen to the children. It didn’t matter that the kids were strangers, that they were dirty, that they were poor. And certainly the love they showed was a much more powerful testimony than anything that I could have said.

The next day, I was in charge of giving out shoes that the team had brought for the children. I motioned for Dania, who was next in line, to come closer. As I pulled off her shoe, I noticed how her toes curled under, stiff and cramped from being stuffed into shoes two sizes too small. Examining the tiny shoe, I saw that the heels were worn to almost nothing, and the fabric in the front was so thin that her toes would soon peek through. I searched the suitcase and found a pair of flowery tennies. “¿Le gustan estes? (Do you like these?)” I asked her. She nodded vigorously, so I loosened the laces and knelt to slip one on. Her feet were bare and dirty, and for a moment, my American pride begged me not to touch them. However, the cry of compassion from my ever-transforming heart was stronger. I reached for her grubby foot and slid it into the shoe. It fit perfectly and looked almost as pretty as the smile lighting up her face.

I marveled at another silent, yet profound, display of Christ’s love. The simple gift of a shoe would bless Dania for at least several months. She would no longer have to rub sore feet at the end of the day or stop halfway to school to dump out rocks that slipped in through the holes. She could now walk in comfort, all because someone living thousands of miles away had walked in obedience to Christ.

Throughout the week, I saw over and over again that God doesn’t need our mouths to proclaim his gospel. His love can be shared just as easily, and probably at times better, through our hands, our feet, and our hearts. After all, who of us can really express the joy of salvation? It’s just one of those things that words can’t say.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18