Glass Slippers

All of us are familiar with the story of Cinderella, right? Cinderella was an orphan left at the hands of her unkind step-mother after her own mother and then her father died. She was assigned a place among the ashes of the fireplace and worked hard to serve and please others. Her rightful place was overseeing the household and enjoying the inheritance her father had left to her, but her unkind and greedy step-mother wanted it all for herself and her own daughters. So, poor Cinderella was relegated to a position that was far less than what her father would have ever intended for her.

Like every girl, she had dreams of a good and purposeful life, but somewhere in all of the twists and turns of her destiny, she lost her identity. Others shaped her path; her step mother, her step sisters. She didn’t own the house and land that was rightfully hers. She knew in her heart that there was more for her, but she was unable to attain or accomplish it.

She heard about the Prince hosting a grand ball, a party, and she wanted to go. She was teased by her step mother and sisters with the possibility of going, but they had no intentions of letting her go. They just dangled the carrot. But, someone heard her cries. Her God-mother. Her God-mother made her presentable for the party. She was cleaned up and given a new dress and new hair-do and transportation and people to serve her needs and most importantly, brand new shoes. Glass slippers made just for her.

Some boundaries were given along with this new opportunity and new freedom. She was given a specific time frame for all of this to happen. Of course, she meets the Prince, dances all night, they fall in love; but, her time is up. As she is racing against the clock in order to keep her promise to her God-mother to be back home by a certain time, she loses her glass slipper. This led to some problems. The carriage that carried her to the party turned back into a pumpkin. The horses that powered the carriage turned back into mice and her beautiful new dress turned back into dirty rags.

But, her shoe remained where she lost it and as the Prince chased after her, he found it. He determined to find her. After much searching, he does find her and the glass slipper designed precisely for her, fit perfectly. She married her Prince, forgave her step-mother and step-sisters and a new life opened up to her. Cinderella rose out of the ashes and into the castle.

Cinderella is a story of unjust oppression and triumphant reward. In fact the word “Cinderella” means one who unexpectedly achieves recognition or success after a period of obscurity and neglect.

Now, this story speaks to my heart. It seems similar to my life experience. In other ways, it does not. Any of you feel like Cinderella in any way, shape or form? Can you see the similarities of her life and ours as women, as women who want to serve God in the way that He gifted us? Has God lifted you out of the ashes and into His castle, His church, His world, His service?