SPOILER ALERT: I might ruin some of the movie for you if you haven’t seen it, but we all pretty much know how the story of Cinderella goes.
Yesterday my mother-in-law took me and my daughters to see the new Cinderella movie. After seeing previews I was unsure of what to expect, but I have to say… I loved it!
I found myself caught up into the wonderful fairytale that I had loved as a child. You are immediately introduced to the kindness of young Ella, but in this version you meet her mother. She is living a wonderfully happy life and then her mother gets ill, as she is lying on her death bed she tells Ella to always “have courage and be kind”.
Have Courage and Be Kind. What an amazing lesson for us all to learn. The movie shows us how Ella lives this out as she goes through growing up without her mother, her father remarrying, losing her father, dealing with her horrible step-mother and step-sisters and being turned into a servant (when she receives the new name of Cinderella).
What if we all could live like this? What if we didn’t live afraid of life and the circumstances that we were in? What if we chose to be kind in every situation that we faced, no matter how difficult?
What does the Bible say about this? Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
And, Ephesians 4:32 starts right out with “Be kind to one another…”
It is so easy to be kind to people who are kind to us. But, what about those times we are dealing with the cruel Lady Tremaines of this world? Those times when we feel like we have lost everything and that all hope is gone? Cinderella lost her parents, her room, and her happy life. From her perspective there would be no reason to think that things were going to improve, but she did her best to keep going and make the most of things.
Proverbs 11:17 says, “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.” This was displayed throughout the movie. Cinderella is kind to the beggar woman who turns out to be her fairy god mother. She is turned into a princess for a night and wins the heart of the prince. Her courage and kindness is what brings her out of her life as a servant in her own home and into the palace. Lady Tremaine is cruel to Cinderella and because of this she is banished from the kingdom.
I found it interesting in the movie that they show the concept of hurting people hurt people. Lady Tremaine had been living a life that she enjoyed when her husband passed away. She was devastated by this loss, but kept the hurt inside and let it turn her bitter. When she married Cinderella’s father it was clear that it was not for love on either of their parts. When she lost yet another husband and heard that she was not even mentioned by him at the end of his life, she took her hurt out on Cinderella. At one time she had dreams for her life and when they were taken from her she chose bitterness, anger, and cruelty instead of courage and kindness.
Two women both faced loss and devastating situations where it seemed like hope was gone, and one chose courage and kindness and the other chose bitterness and anger. One received love and the palace and one received nothing.
My favorite part of the movie came after the glass slipper fit Cinderella’s foot and she was getting ready to leave the house with the Prince. When she is almost to the door she notices Lady Tremaine coming down the stairs. Cinderella turns to her and pauses. This was the moment when she could take revenge. She had just been chosen by the Prince and had all the power in the kingdom to make happen whatever it was she wanted to, to Lady Tremaine. She could have said anything at that moment. She could have repaid her for every horrible thing that was done and said to her, and instead she said, “I forgive you.” And, then went out the door with her prince.
If only we could live with the courage and kindness of Cinderella; to endure the hurt and hardship with kindness and still forgive without the other showing any remorse.
Earlier I referenced how Ephesians 4:32 mentions kindness, but the verse in its entirety is where the real lesson is, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Now, if we all could just live “happily ever after”.
Debi says
Loved the thought you share here. And I cant wait to see the movie!! Thanks for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop!
Stephanie says
Thanks Debi. The movie is fantastic!
Carol says
I’m taking two of my girls to see the movie this afternoon. Thanks for your thoughts!