And They Lived Happily Ever After

My favorite fairy tale is still “Cinderella”. The prince falls in loves with Cinderella. He searches the kingdom for her and slides the glass slipper on her foot like an engagement ring. Next comes the story ending: “And they lived happily ever after.”

NOT! Sweet imagination, but NOT reality. It's not how real life stories go. All you have to do is fast-forward to a year later and Prince Charming is no longer charming. In fact, he’s become somewhat boring, leaves his underwear on the floor, the stool lid up, doesn’t put a new toilet paper roll on OR puts it on backward, watches way too many sports shows, belches out loud and, to make matters worse….he snores like a buzz-saw! And, on top of that, he gets upset that Cinderella is overspending on more shoes, she gets so emotional at the drop of a pin and spends way too much time on the phone with her mother and friends. How’s that for a reality check to our fantasy dreams?

Marriages come with a lot of grandiose expectations. I’ll never forget receiving the phone call from my emotional and in-tears daughter just days after her marriage when her husband's underwear was all pink after washing them with a red sheet. A little consoling and directions for returning them to their original color resolved that reality check, but the up and down moments still ensued – as with all marriages. Of course, we all want the fairy tale—the happily ever after. And, with the right emphasis and getting our love priorities in the right order, it can happen.

From firsthand experience I can tell you, true love may falter, but it still survives. When we break, and we do, we pick up the pieces and fit them together again. No, the pieces may not fit together now exactly the same way as they did in the wedding pictures, but we fit together in a new way, a way that that holds us together even more strongly than ever. Trust me on that!

Sometimes we put too much emphasis on what’s wrong instead of what's RIGHT! Best. News. Ever. We DO have the perfect spouse. His name is Jesus, and one day we’ll be in heaven with Him for our happily-ever-after story. No human relationship can completely fulfill our need for love. When those we love fall short, it’s a signal to our souls to turn to Jesus.

Over and over, scripture describes God’s people as a bride with words like these: “As a bridegroom rejoices over His bride, so will your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5). This is what’s truer than a fairy tale for us during this month of love and tomorrow, Valentine’s Day: We’re loved beyond what we can even imagine. Whether we are single or married, whatever may have happened in our romantic relationships, even if we feel alone sometimes… we are the beloved bride of the perfect Husband. And there’s still a "happily ever after" in our future. It’s true for those of us who have made Him Lord of all…we will live happily ever after. Not, THE END, but THE BEGINNING of forever.

Royalty Comes With Great Responsibility

For so many fairy-tale-loving little girls and even big girls like me, we are captivated from our home’s front row seats as we watch the real life, regal ceremonies and celebrations of the marriage of Prince Harry and Megan Markle today. A good love story is hard to resist. And, in this case, a “commoner” and Prince Charming rank right up there with my Hallmark movies that I adore! This one is for the record books. I heard a commentator say that little girls everywhere can now dream and really believe for a “Prince Charming” wherever or whoever they come from. Meghan is the first divorced, biracial, American actress to marry into the royal family.

Meghan bent the royal rules a few times during their engagement period, but much of that distinctive style will, no doubt, change once she actually becomes royalty when their wedding vows are said. While eagle-eyeing all this hoopla, I noticed, more than ever, that royalty comes with great responsibility. Meghan had to delete all her social media accounts and she can no longer take selfies. Her nail polish must be “natural looking”. And, she is permitted to pick up her fork at meals only after the queen begins eating. She’s required to learn British terminology.

I’m on stand-by with my DVR today for recording every moment of the grandeur of this ROYAL day. I wish the couple a most blessed marriage and I pray they will continue to support charities and philanthropy in tangible ways. Word has it that they have asked for donations to charities in lieu of wedding gifts.

I can’t help but think of Portugal's Queen Elizabeth, a Spanish princess given in marriage to King Denis of Portugal in the 1200s. She was well known for going to the countryside and taking food to the poor peasant children, but she'd also take her crown with her for the children to put on. As she placed the crown on their heads, she would remind them that regardless of their situation in life, as children of God, they are royalty because they are members of God's royal family. Queen Elizabeth (St. Elizabeth) became known for practicing this custom throughout her life. It was her way of spreading the Gospel message to simply remind us all that we are God's children.

Royalty does come with great responsibility and I’m sure we’ll be hearing and seeing many news stories about the newly married Duke and Duchess for many years to come, but royalty isn’t for only those with royal titles. As previous royal divorces show, marrying Prince Harry doesn't guarantee that Meghan Markle will remain a member of the royal family for life. But here's the best ROYAL news for you and me. When we became a child of God, we entered His royal family for eternity.

We are the King of ALL Kings' children and in His family, we are royalty. Holy Spirit continues to work with us to become stellar examples of what it means to become one of God's children. Holy Spirit constantly urges us to speak a different language from the world. Royalty doesn't speak "commoner" language. Royalty comes with great responsibility. We represent the Royal Family -- God's Family. Our responsibility is to live our lives as examples of God's language of love, forgiveness, gentleness, kindness, and peace, as well as sharing all of that with others so that they, too, will know they are also royal children of God.