I love the story of Cinderella. She was always a wonderful person in the story, only her circumstances changed. Life was good when her dad was alive, bad when he died, and fabulous when she was discovered by the prince. You might see a parallel in a Christian’s timeline. Good while small and under someone’s protection, bad when we are on our own and our own values and strengths, and fabulous when discovered or discover, the Prince of Peace. I know it is way too general, but there can be some commonality.

I imagined a Cinderella comparison in my life. I saw the negativity in me, yet many of my former students have said nice things to me and about me, and I’ve been called a “favorite” teacher by many I’ve come across. Some have even made an extra effort to contact me through social media and other methods. So where is the real me? The guy I often see in the mirror or the teacher students generously accepted? I compare this to either a person sticking his head in a pumpkin by trying to be a good person in his own awareness and strength or the person riding in a wonderful carriage made from a pumpkin. The difference in the story is a fairy godmother. The difference in my life is Jesus. He creates the beautiful carriage I get to ride in, which is so much better than me sticking my head in a pumpkin.

Without Jesus there is no carriage or values that would create a lovable, respectable person. Love and the qualities of God (called the fruits of the Spirit in the Bible) are a manifestation of God wherever they are found, even when found among persons who reject God and intentionally fight against Him. Love can’t exist if God is not somehow present in some way.

The joy of Christianity is that Christians know who provides the true qualities of joy and beauty and can connect with the author of life. God created the pumpkin carriage through His constant work to grow me past my total commitment to selfishness. He added His generosity to show me grace when I was unable to be what He and I prefer me to be. I rode in a carriage pumpkin instead of wearing a pumpkin with my head shoved in it because God gave better than I had to offer while He was (and is) still working on my transformation to better.