Joyfully Ever After

I know I’m not supposed to because of all kinds of reasons, but I love fairy tales.   And, I like the versions with beautiful princesses with good taste in shoes and the noble princes who can’t live without them.  German literary superiority has nothing on tiaras and white steeds.  Who doesn’t love a good happily ever after?  Even commoners must have a shot at that . . .   Once upon a time there was a girl.  Her family was full of sadness and addiction and broken relationships and abandonment.  But, she knew Jesus.   Once upon a time there was a boy.  His family was full of selfishness and mental illness and broken relationships and abandonment.  But, he knew Jesus.   They grew up, found each other, and got married.  Their families never stopped being full of sadness and selfishness and addiction and mental illness and broken relationships – sometimes it was so oppressive that it felt like they would be overcome and destroyed by it.  Sometimes they weren’t sure they could keep going.  But, they knew Jesus.   They had babies.  They loved these children so much that they had to ensure their life would be different from what mom and dad had known.  So, they decided to follow Jesus.   The problems with their families wouldn’t go away.  Too much of the time they didn’t think they could keep going.  But, they kept following Jesus.   They prayed.  He answered.  He gave them friends who loved them, a church who taught them His word, a heart for His will.  The problems with their families never go away.  They know they can keep going; they trust Jesus.   They realize that the gallant efforts of Walt Disney and the Brothers Grimm have nothing on the creativity and sovereignty and mercy and grace of God’s story.  They come to the understanding that mere happiness depends entirely too much on circumstances they can never control.  Mere happiness is nothing but a poor substitute for His glory – a glory He wants to reveal through them.  So, in His story, they are living joyfully ever after instead.  Because in His story, they are redeemed by Jesus.   This is dedicated to my handsome prince . . . thank you for making me the princess in our fairy tale –  for loving Him first so you can love me and our boys so well.