Who doesn’t like Cinderella? From the original adaptation in 1950 to the 2015 remake, one can’t help but believe in prince charming and a fairy godmother…well, almost! The 2015 version supports the concept that where there is courage, kindness follows. And where there is kindness, there is goodness. Ella’s dying mother leaves her a legacy in the form of a secret, the theme of which is carried throughout the movie: “I have to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer. Have courage and be kind.” And as we see in the movie, Cinderella takes her mother’s words to heart. One author sums up her response this way: “No matter how tough Cinderella’s life had become, she always had courage and was always kind. She kept her mice friends safe, lived in the dirty attic, did the house chores and cared for her not-so-loving-step-family. In the end, she was rewarded with true love and, as we all know, lived happily ever after.” Interestingly enough, in an effort to stay true to the original Walt Disney movie, there are several statements made by Cinderella that might cause one to think that there is hope for Hollywood after all! (“Just because it’s what’s done doesn’t mean it’s what should be done”—is one of them.)
If we were to dissect the statement, have courage and be kind, we would see that courage is defined as having strength in the face of danger, pain, or grief, and effort is made to follow through on one’s convictions despite danger or disapproval. Kindness hints at being warm-hearted and generous; while on the other hand it strongly leans toward forgiveness, witnessed in a scene at the end of the movie when Cinderella leaves her stepmother’s home on the arm of her prince, turns to her stepmother and says, “I forgive you.”
I can’t help wondering if this interpretation of kindness was the intention of the script writer. Nevertheless, this act of forgiveness expressed with unmerited kindness is a reminder, if not a challenge that as a follower of Christ Jesus, I need to make the intentional choice to forgive, no matter the circumstances. Equally so, when I make a conscious choice to be an encourager and ultimately radiate kindness and forgiveness, I become God’s agent in a world that needs to know the love and forgiveness of Christ. My actions, my words, even my thoughts should emit God’s love and instill courage, hope, and kindness in the midst of our tired, hurting, and confused world.
But admittedly, it takes courage to enco
urage, especially when conflict and divisiveness permeates our society. George M. Adams said, “Encouragement is oxygen to the soul,” and I’m convinced that to be the oxygen the world needs, is first, to look within ourselves, to be thankful, to count our blessings...to name them one by one. Sometimes it’s hard to do that, especially when fiery ordeals invade our days. But when we pause and count our blessings and remember what God has done in our lives, we will treat our loved ones, our fellow neighbours, strangers, and even those who are opposed to our way of thinking, with a kindness that transcends needless conflict, frustration and pain. And an amazing thing happens, kindness wins and damaged relationships begin to heal and souls breathe new oxygen!
Have courage and be kind. A wonderful legacy, not just in a fairytale but for life!
“Trials and hardships are not random, wasteful mistakes but purposefully ordained by our Sovereign God. Entrust our souls to our Creator who loves us. Take all your fiery ordeals and trust God Almighty.”
Pastor Rick Baker
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,
that it may benefit those who listen…Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ, God forgave you.”
Ephesians 5: 29, 32
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