Fairy tales: I loved reading them as a child. Stories of kings and queens, dragons and magic, exotic lands and a different way of life. The handsome prince rescues and marries the beautiful princess (or maybe a beautiful commoner), and they live happily ever after. Repeating the age-old battle of good versus evil.
Walt Disney made fairy tales like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs into classic animated films that became children’s favorites. And love for these movies continued into adulthood.
Fairy tales were often created from folk tradition and oral history of cultures and ethnic groups. Some are cross-cultural with changed details, but the basic story remains the same. For instance, I read a version of Cinderella where the glass slipper was a fur slipper.
Do you ever wonder what the “post story” might be? Did Cinderella and her prince have disagreements? Did Sleeping Beauty and her prince, so in love and so perfect for each other, suffer from illness or pain? Did Snow White and her prince struggle to keep their marriage and family together?
Happily ever after implies that everything is perfect.
In Fairest Inn All, Amy Anguish’s retelling of Snow White as a contemporary romance, Silas Barrett, the father of Royal (the book’s Prince Charming) makes an important point.
“I often wonder if the books end where they do because we love to be left with that sense of euphoria of everything working out like we wanted to. But if it went further, we’d see that life isn’t always easy and comes with its fair share of bumps and bruises. Doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.”
Although life isn’t perfect, and adversity is unavoidable, loving relationships are worth the risk. And adversity can make the relationship stronger and more precious.
https://scrivenings.link/fairestinnall (releases 3/24/26)
In the Bible book of Romans, the apostle Paul reminds believers that there is purpose behind our afflictions on a spiritual level. They help us develop strength, character, and hope.
“…tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3,4 NKJV)
At times it appears that evil is winning, but ultimately good will win out.
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:17 NKJV)
www.bethewestcott.com
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