Happily Ever After

I felt his presence before I felt his hand on my back. I turned and looked up into the brown eyes of the one to whom I had just pledged my life. My dress swished as I turned. Around us four hundred guests bubbled with details. “Did you see the dress up close?” “After six years, they finally tied the knot.” “I hear they are leaving in a horse drawn carriage.”

Words floated on the air, but all I heard was, “Come with me, I have a surprise.” His eyes sparkled as he took my hand and gently led me to a chair in the center of the reception. “Have a seat,” he smirked and waited as I fluffed out my dress. “What are you doing? I don’t know about this,” I started nervously. “You’re right. You don’t.”

As I sat, guests began to form a circle around us. My Love raised his voice above the crowd, “Hello, everybody. Most of you know how I proposed to Carol with a fairy tale I wrote.” Heads nodded, and those who didn’t know were quickly filled in by those who did. “Well, there is only one more thing I need to make this perfect,” he explained. As he spoke, he went down on his knee pulling out an exquisite crystal glass slipper.

“I believe this is yours.” I sat mesmerized at this man who had thought of everything – this dream come true. I glanced at the friends and family around me shaking my head as if to say, “Can you believe this?” And I grinned and knew it was the start of something great. It was the beginning of my happily ever after.

Believe it or not, we really can learn something about marriage from fairy tales.

1. Love with all your heart.

Cinderella and Prince Charming loved with all their hearts. The key to loving your spouse completely is by first loving God. 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' Matthew 22:37 NIV God created love. Only through loving Him with all our hearts and minds can we truly know how to love our spouse.

2. Know there are wicked stepsisters who will try to steal your happiness.

Anastasia and Drizella were Cinderella’s evil stepsisters. They would stop at nothing to steal Cinderella’s happiness. They more or less cared nothing about Cinderella, but were consumed with concern for themselves. Satan will place evil stepsisters or “little foxes” in your path. He wants nothing more than to destroy your marriage. Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. Song of Solomon 2:15 NIV Just be on watch.

3. Recognize your differences.

When the prince finally found Cinderella, she was dressed in rags working as a servant in her own home. In a time where family and prestige meant everything, the prince didn’t scoff and turn his back on Cinderella. He recognized their differences and looked beyond them. Her experiences there would make her more compassionate and understanding to the townspeople in her role as princess and someday queen. Sometimes the very things that draw us to someone, later drives us crazy. God made each of us different. Men and women eat different, sleep different, dress different, and communicate different. Let your strengths and weaknesses fold together like clasped hands. Your differences will actually make you stronger as a couple. You’ll each have a different area of expertise.

4. Do whatever it takes.

After dancing with the woman of his dreams, the prince found himself alone as the clock struck midnight. He was left with nothing but a shoe and a memory. Having only met Cinderella once, the prince could have easily given up and moved on. Instead, he stopped at nothing to find his true love. Every home was visited until the identity of the crystal slipper wearer was discovered. Life is hard. Marriage takes effort. You can’t just say “I do,” and then don’t. You really have to do something. Work at meeting your true loves needs and keeping the spark alive.

Take sometime this week to focus on your happily ever after. You’ll be so glad you did.

Visit Carol at sheep to the right!