I’ve lost my love for the Cinderella story, and it’s Lisa Harper’s fault. 

Lisa Harper is a Christian speaker, author, and teacher. I love her because she is soooo authentic. Our women’s group at church was studying her Bible study on the Gospel of Luke. In one video session, she spoke on Cinderella—and forever ruined the story in an oh, so good, way. 

For me, the Cinderella story has always been a pretty person story. (Disclaimer: No offense if you’re in this camp. My family is full of them, and I love each one.) Pretty faces, flawless skin, sweet as Southern iced tea even when the going gets tough. You know the story. Cindy falls in love, overcomes her dysfunctional family, and marries the handsome prince. 

The pretty people end up together with a happily ever after. 

Everyone else? Not so much. 

Throughout the tale, the wicked stepsisters are shunned, ridiculed, and made the butt of jokes, depending on the version. They’re laughed at and rejected. 

Why? 

Because they are ugly. Inside and out. 

Hmm. You wouldn’t find Jesus telling a story like that. 

Because even if you were voted class beauty (I wasn’t), your heart needs a makeover. No one, listen to me now, no one is without sin. All of us were born selfish. 

Flawed. 

Broken. 

Only Jesus can give us a new heart. One like His. 

Oh, we can try to be good. Sweet. Forgiving. And I did try. Really hard. 

But without Jesus? Yeah, no. Not consistently, and certainly not long term. 

Jesus reaches out to the ugly stepsisters and makes them beautiful. 

He chooses them.

He heals them. 

He restores them. 

He restores me. 

He restores us.

The Prince of Peace, the King of all kings, chooses us. 

No glass slipper required. 

We come as we are. Imperfect. Selfish. Broken. 

And He loves us. 

Cinderella? She’s all fairy tale. A staged social media post with all the flaws hidden. 

With Jesus, we can be sweet, loving, and forgiving too. 

But this is more than behavior modification. 

This is love. 

Love that changes us and captures our heart too. Listen to your Prince, “You’ve captured my heart, dear friend. You looked at me, and I fell in love. One look my way and I was hopelessly in love (Song of Songs 4:9 MSG)!”

Your Prince is waiting.