Some Day Our Prince Will Come. . .

​Life is not a Fairy Tale
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     I chanced upon a recent TV interview where the people were discussing the adverse effects of fairy-tales and fairy-tale movies on our children. I admit, I laughed. Then, I realized how serious this discussion was and what repercussions it might cause.​

     In effect, these people were saying that we should ban these fairy-tales, both in word and in beloved animated movies, because they were detrimental to the psyche of young girls. Girls should never, they continued, be forced to believe that their happiness depended on a prince riding a white horse or that they should spend their lives waiting for a prince to wake them with a kiss.​

     I was totally astounded! First of all, your child should not believe that fairy tales are real. Life is not a fairy tale. However, we can learn from them. Like any good parent I had these conversations during bedtime stories.​

     From Beauty and the Beast, we learned that it doesn’t matter what a person looks like on the outside, it is their inside that defines them. Also, a giant library full of books was an awesome gift and better than a diamond ring. ​​

     From Cinderella, we learned that we should never let the jealousy of others define us.  Life isn’t always easy, and it is good to have true friends. When life gets better for you, you don’t forget them. (Importantly, in real life, mice in the house would be creepy no matter how many cute outfits you put on them.) Dancing in the arms of your prince makes you feel as if your feet never touch ground.​

     From Sleeping Beauty, we learned that your prince wakes you up to the woman you are meant to be. Although others might want to try, only your prince will be truly successful because this is a task meant only for him and he is willing to wait until the proper time. ​

     From Snow White, we learned to whistle while we work, because music makes every chore go faster. Most importantly, we learned that someday, our prince will come.​

     What is wrong with waiting on your prince? The emphasis is on y-o-u-r. Too many young people rush into relationships with people they do not truly love and often into marriage they are not ready for.​

     Even 12-year-olds, in the bloom of puppy love, are devastated by break-ups. It hurts, yet when you look back as an adult, you know that it was a learning experience of what you were looking for in ‘your’ prince. Some women have difficulty with this learning requirement. They spend their life in one failed relationship after another with the same type of man. There is nothing like being broken and kicked off your feet by divorce. Divorce can happen when  you rush into marriage with someone else’s prince or when someone tries to find happiness by taking yours.

     Yes, I believe in soul-mates. I believe there is one perfect man for each of us. God created me to be everything--physically, mentally, and spiritually--that my soul mate needed and didn’t have. He created my soul mate to be everything I needed and didn’t have.​

     By the way, when the Prince of Peace returns, he is going to be riding a white horse. Every man, woman, and child should be waiting expectantly for His triumphant arrival.​

     Personally, I believe that a lot of the idiocy spouted by people, such as those above, has more to do with tearing down Christ and what His word has to teach us, than it does about caring how young girls will be affected by fairy tales.​

     Life is school and work, babies and diapers, housework and bills. Life is personal relationships, some of them painful—-your parents and grandparents, your children and grandchildren, your girlfriends and co-workers. Life is waking up to one man every day, going through seasons in your marriage—romantic Spring, hot and passionate Summer, comfortable Fall, and cold Winter—making love to him, standing by him, and holding his hand as he takes his last breath.​

     Life is not a fairy-tale. It is definitely not a sweet and easy adventure with singing birds and smiling mice who help you with your housework.  Life can be hard. It can be getting knocked off your feet over and over and crying out to God for help in summoning the strength to stand.​

     It doesn't matter if you are young or old, single or in a relationship, married or still looking. It doesn’t matter what color you are, what country you live in, or how much (or little) money you have. Life can be hard. We get knocked off our feet. Praise God, our true Prince is always willing to reach down, take us by the hand, and pull us to our feet.

Excerpt from "Warrior Woman of Christ: Find Your Armor and Put It On" by  Kim Marie Johnson
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