Monday, January 21, 2008

You Can't Whistle While You Work if You're Sucking Sour Grapes


Snow White: the delicate flower of a woman with porcelain skin, ruby red lips, and a voice that enchants forest animals near and far. She’s the “fairest of them all” and thereby the prime nemesis to the wicked and infinitely vain Queen. In addition to this she’s the headmistress of the world’s first (and perhaps only) home for dwarfs. A dwarfanage, if you will. But apart from absolute beauty, maternal instincts, and the advantage of animators to maintain her girlish figure –what’s she got that we ain’t got?

In a phrase –pucker power! (“You do know how to whistle, don’t you?”) Funny thing about whistling; it’s impossible to frown and whistle at the same time. Go ahead. Try it. Poise yourself in front of the mirror, draw the corners of your mouth down despairingly and just try to pipe out a tune. Can’t be done.

So, it doesn’t seem like a stretch to say that all this “whistle while you work” stuff may have reflected a greater attribute than merely luscious lips. Our pasty white princess has a happy heart. It’s a good thing otherwise Sleepy, Sneezy, Dopey, Bashful, and well, you know the rest, would never have stood a chance. And without a happy heart, neither do your husband or children. But don’t take my word for it.

Proverbs 21:19 says,

“It is better to live alone in the desert than with a crabby, complaining wife.” (NLT)

And again in Proverbs 27:15

“A nagging wife is as annoying as the constant dripping on a rainy day.” (NLT)

If anyone had a reason for being a bitter old nag, it’s our girl, Snowy. Her life was far from perfect. Here she is fluttering about with her chirping little bird friends when some woodsman drags her to the middle of nowhere in order to kill her. Sure, he spares her life but she has to leave friends, family, and homeland only to find herself shacked up with seven half-sized bachelors, most of whom appear old enough to be her father. She had plenty to gripe about even before she took a bite of that poisoned apple.

Just suppose that Prince Charming came riding up on his noble steed only to get an earful from Snow White’s vertically challenged roommates about how dreadfully irritable, demanding, and impossible to satisfy she was; and how peaceful their lives had been since they stuck her in that glass coffin. Do you think for one moment he would have given her a life restoring kiss? I think it’s safe to say he’d have galloped right on by in search of some other fair maiden. Perhaps a damsel locked away in a tower accessible only by her own glorious hair. But that’s another story.

Maybe, if the Scripture had been written in fairytale language these Proverbs would have come to mind:

“Better for a Prince to live in his own dungeon than in a beautiful castle with a hateful Princess.”

Or…“A nagging Princess is as annoying as the constant fire-breathing of a treacherous dragon.”

What about you? Are you glad of heart; warbling about in sweet melodies? Or have the sour grapes of feeling overworked, underpaid, and under appreciated sucked your cheeks in tighter than a kissy-fish face? Are circumstances stealing your joy or is the joy of the Lord your strength?

We can honestly admit that we all have our moody moments; but for the sake of our families and the testimony of our Savior, let’s lay aside malice, anger, and bitterness (Eph. 4:31) -those sour grapes we’ve been sucking on for too long; and taste the sweet fruit of kindness, tender-heartedness, and forgiveness (Eph. 4:32).

Come on ladies, put some gloss on those fabulous lips, smack ‘em together like you mean it, and get to whistling. It’s possible that even the “Grumpy-est” dwarf in your life will soften under the refrain of your happy heart song.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Cinderella Should THANK Her Stepmother

Oh I know, I know –she was a wicked stepmother but the way I see it, this little cinder girl owes her dysfunctional family a great big “thank you”. Without realizing it, they were molding her into a help meet suitable for a prince.

What is it that we envy in Cinderella (besides her uncanny ability to communicate with mice)? I believe there are many things: her work ethic, her resourcefulness, her inner beauty, and of course, the ability to snag her man. But how did she acquire these characteristics? The answer is one simple word -service. Cinderella spent her childhood and youth serving ungrateful, undeserving, and completely self-absorbed people. In this training ground, she learned everything she needed to win the affection of Prince Charming and to truly live “happily ever after.”

From a purely practical standpoint, this girl was a homemaker extraordinaire. She could cook, clean, do laundry, scrub floors, wash windows, sew…the list goes on and on. It seems that no job was too large or too small thanks to the narrow-eyed demands of Mommy Dearest.

And those sisters of hers…yikes! Is it any wonder Cinderella was a woman full of humility? After all, she saw narcissism at its worst with those two. Cinderella quickly learned what not to do from their sniveling, whining, and selfishly sour dispositions. And again, we have the queen bee herself, perpetuating the distorted self-images of her own daughters’ while unwittingly ensuring the spotlight for our sweet heroine.

Cinderella realized early on that she would receive no pay, no recognition, and no appreciation for all of her hard work and sacrifice; yet she goes about her tasks joyfully, singing even. Another endearing trait built up in the midst of adversity. Not only does she have the necessary skills and humble spirit to serve but she does so with cheerfulness.

Okay, maybe a “Mother of the Year” award isn’t in order, but it is interesting how the stepmother’s efforts to burden, shame, and enslave Cinderella instead empowered, inspired, and prepared her for the most important role she would ever play. Cinderella’s heart of service is a shining contrast to the “world” around her.

So, what’s the point? (Besides the fact that being home with four children causes you to search for spiritual meaning in fairytale animation.) What merit does this story have for today? Well, let’s look at another literary heroine…our dear friend the Proverbs 31 woman. The focus of her “excellence” can also be summed up in one word –service!

Skillful service – She “works with eager hands” (v.13) and “sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” (v.17)
Humble service – She brings her husband “good, not harm, all the days of her life” (v.12) and “she opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” (v.20)
Cheerful service – “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” (v25)

Are we serving our families “heartily, as to the Lord”? (Col 3:23, KJV) Do we begrudge the calling God has place on our lives as homemakers, wives, or mothers? How are we responding to the sometimes grumpy, demanding, selfish, whiny, and impossible to satisfy people God has placed in our lives? And how is He using them to prepare us for His blessing?

You want the fairy tale don’t you? Back in Proverbs 31 we see what happens as a woman chooses to serve God and others skillfully, humbly, and cheerfully.

“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gates.” (verses 28-30)

Now that’s what I call a happy ending.

(Scripture references are from the NIV)