Cinderella  ~ By Paula Moldenhauer

"...all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."  (Isaiah 54:6 NIV)

In Disney's rendition of the classic tale, Cinderella, there's a scene that is forever lodged in my mind and heart.  After Cinderella has endeavored faithfully to finish all that has been required of her, she is given a present by her mice friends, a beautiful gown.

Pulling the gown over her head, Cinderella dares hope she might now be presentable enough to go to the ball.  She wants to feel like a princess, even for a moment.

Cinderella rushes down the stairs, eager to be included in the night's events.  Instead, she is met by a calculating glare from her stepmother and by the raging, destroying hands of her stepsisters.  When they are done with her, she once again stands in rags.

Weeping as her stepfamily pulls away in the carriage, bound for the ball, Cinderella is inconsolable.  All her efforts, all her dreams, any hope of becoming a princess is destroyed.

The other day a friend and I were talking.  She mentioned how Cinderella is inconsolable.  All her efforts, all her dreams, any hope of becoming a princess is destroyed.

The other day a friend and I were talking.  She mentioned how Cinderella had made her think about what it means to be God's princess.

"Remember how she dressed up and tried to make herself look like a princess?"  She asked.  "But her step-sisters tore her gown and left her in rags.  I think we do that too.

"We try to be a princess by putting on good works and yet our efforts never succeed.  Just like it took a prince to make Cinderella a princess, it takes our prince, Jesus to make us one."

I've lived like Cinderella.  I've tried to put on whatever things make me look like a princess.  Good deeds, success, a style to fit my cultural box, and many other behaviors have covered me like a ball gown.

But, in the end, they were really just rags.  I was left standing outside the ballroom, my efforts shredded and hanging from me like rags.

Nothing I do makes me a princess.  There is only one way I can become royal.  I must accept the hand of the prince.

Jesus, my Prince, as I accept your hand help me to let go of the striving to make myself good enough for you and to instead delight in being chosen as your princess.

~ A mother of four, Paula Moldenhauer is passionate about God's grace and intimacy with Jesus.  Her website offers book reviews, homeschooling hints, and a free weekly devotional, Soul Scents.  Subscribe to Soul Scents at www.soulscents.us.  Visit her blog at www.gracereign.blogspot.com.  Contact Paula at Paula@soulscents.us.