Fairy Tale Syndrome

Growing up, there were many things that my family did together. We went for hikes and walks, played basketball on the gravel driveway, watched movies, and read together, just to name a few. One of my favorite events in the evening took place just before bed, the reading of stories.

I love books and reading; I actually kind of have a problem with books. Between my classroom library and my personal collection, I have too many, enough in fact that I should probably just start my own library. Books fascinate me, not in the escape from reality way, but rather learning from someone else's story. Everything we encounter has the power to change us, if we allow it.  Every single story matters.

When I was a child, my parents read to me every evening. For that, bed time was one of my favorite parts of the day. Not only did I have my parents attention, but we were immersed in a story together. The selections were vast, from animals to pirates to classic children's books to fairy tales.  This is a tradition that I hope to one day continue with my own family.

I loved all the stories; I hungered for books in the way that someone who is starving hungers for a simple crumb. Some of the stories read were fairy tales. Fairy tales have similar plots. It begins with a main character who is genuine and compassionate going about every day life. Then, they randomly encounter a handsome stranger. Next, they have an encounter with a villain who challenges everything and puts the main character into an impossible situation. Then the main character is rescued by the stranger who turns out to be a prince. The villain is vanquished and the prince and the main character live happily ever after.

Oh the power of those three words, happily ever after. They instill hope and delight in the mind of a small child. But, what happens when a generation of young children grow up believing that they are to be rescued out of their situations by a handsome stranger riding in on a white horse, only then to be swept off their feet and live happily ever after? Now understand, I believe in the power of fairy tales in that they show children that they can be brave and do more than they ever believed possible.

But, somewhere, some lines got crossed and little girls everywhere became young women and adults who are stuck with Fairy Tale Syndrome. Look, believe in love and love at first sight. But, also know that love, real love, agape love, takes work and selflessness. Life is not the perfection of a simple fairy tale; there are real struggles and real issues.

Young women - you do not need to wait on Prince Charming for rescuing. Instead you need to RUN to the KING, your heavenly father. The struggles or circumstances you face are refining you for your future. The victories and triumphs you are experiencing are to be shared with others to encourage them. Run hard for God and His plan for your life and at some point along the way, Princess, the Prince that GOD has for you will appear. However, it will not be to rescue you, but to run alongside you that you may both run hard toward God and His perfect plan for your life.  This does not mean that you can keep looking over your shoulder or to the right and left saying, "God is that him? Or what about him? Or that guy over there?"

Stop.

Focus on God. Trust in God. Let go of trying to write the story and realize that God has it and is waiting on you to just start running to Him and He is going to turn the page and either continue the chapter in which you find yourself or begin another.