I have to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer. Have courage and be kind.
– Ella’s Mother

Recently I was given a copy of a new book entitled “Rescuing Cinderella”, by Marcia Nelson.  As a major Disney fan I was intrigued. The cover captured my attention with an image of an open book and sparkling pixie dust.

Intended to inspire women, the lower caption reads “Letting Jesus take you from Disillusionment to Happily Ever After”.

I am an avid book reader.  I read multiple books each month.  My focus is on novels.  Take me away, capture my imagination on a romance or mystery, and I will explore another reality for a brief time.  I also generally have in progress at least one self-help book of some kind inspiring me in some sort of self-improvement.

This book not falling into either category, still intrigued me.  The author blends in her personal experiences, the story of Cinderella, and a variety of bible stories, that tie together with a similar theme.  How can we, as women, let go of what we believe should be, as we search for true happiness? How can we find our Happily Ever After in the love God provides, and the future he will bring?

As the author progresses through the story of Cinderella, it gives me new perspective. Cinderella, doing her best to please, loses her identity. Her faith and trust is in giving kindness, and yet, in the end it does not save her.  Identifying the fairy godmother as her savior, the author draws the similarity of how God is our rescuer and, if we allow, will fulfill the plans he has for us.

The quote that starts off chapter one says:

What messes us up most in life are the pictures in our heads of how things are supposed to be.

Isn’t that the truth! My life path took me in places I would never have imagined, both good and bad.  However, I’m very grateful I took what I was given, focused on the good, and can honestly say I have a great life.  And my life path has taken me to some amazing destinations.

Life is so ironic.  It takes sadness to know what happiness is, noise to appreciate silence, and absence to value presence.

Every test in life makes us bitter or better; every problem comes to break us or make us.  The choice is ours whether we stay victims or victors.

The author chose “victor” as she weaves her personal experience into the story.  I enjoy hearing how her happiness is fulfilled, as well as examples pulled from women in the bible.

We all want the Cinderella story.  We all want the happy ending.

Let go of the past–even the way you wanted the past to be but it never was.  Then you can change the present and move on to a hopeful future.

The future may not be the happiness you expected, but it can be a happiness you choose.  Feeling that peace and joy, it’s out there, you only have to choose it.

The author completes her story, and that of Cinderella.  It ends joyfully with a few life lessons. Forgive those from the past. Move forward with anticipation of what will be.  She lays out at the end, how each and every one of us can live that life of joy and peace, if only we will choose to let our Savior give it to us.

One of the things I enjoyed most in this book was seeing how Cinderella’s life could be related to dreams, struggles and disappointments that each of us relate to, sometimes daily.  Although we use the “Cinderella” story as a fictitious impossibility, in some ways, we can enjoy that “Cinderella” ending in our own life, with the right prospective, and by allowing God to step into focus.  I did find myself wanting to watch the movie once again, and when I do, I will look at it with a new perspective.

One of my favorite God Quotes is this:
I know what I have planned for you!
I have plans for you to prosper and thrive, not to harm you.
I have plans to give you a future filled with HOPE!
(From Jeremiah 29:11)

Oh, it’s a beautiful dress! Did you ever see such a beautiful dress? And look! Glass slippers. Why, it’s like a dream. A wonderful dream come true!
– Cinderella

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Marcia Nelson can be contacted at marcianelson610@gmail.com