I absolutely LOVE Ever After. God first showed what Cinderella was all about when I first saw that movie.
The part that gets me every time is when she shows up at the ball. Henry drops everything to greet her and wants to introduce her to everyone. He thinks she gone to Belgium to get married but here she is!
The reunion doesn't last long because Danielle's stepmother recognizes her. She comes up behind Danielle and rips off her wings.
Baroness: "She is an impostor, Sire!"
Danielle: "- No!"
Baroness: "Her name is Danielle de Barbarac. She has been my servant for ten years."
King Francis: "A servant, Henry? Is this some kind ofjoke?"
Henry: "Baroness, you are on dangerous ground!"
Baroness: "Ask her yourself! She's a grasping, devious little pretender and it is my duty to expose her as the covetous hoax she is."
Henry: "Tell these women who you are. Tell them!"
Baroness: "Bow before royalty, you insolent fraud!"
Henry: "My God, it can't be true. Nicole?"
Danielle: "Nicole de Lancret was my mother. I am what she says."
Henry: "The apple? That was you?"
Danielle: "I can explain."
King Francis: "Well, someone had better!"
Henry: "First, you're engaged. And now you're a servant? I've heard enough."
Danielle: "Henry, please!"
(murmuring)
Henry: "Do not address me so informal, madam. I am a Prince of France. And you are just. Like. Them."
It was this scene, more than 3 years ago, that put it all in perspective for me. In Revelation, Satan is called the "Accuser of the Brethren". He regularly makes trips to Heaven, trying to convince God that His whole plan isn't worth all the trouble, that we should all just be handed over to him.
He tells God that we are below His station. We are only servants. Who lays down his life for a servant? He tells God that we are only pretenders. He tells God that we only want material things, that we aren't interested in Him at all. He repeats all of our past mistakes to God.
He tells us the same things. God doesn't want you, you're only a servant. You're only a pretender, a liar. You're dirty. You're worthless.
I am just so thankful that Jesus didn't have the same reaction as Henry!!! I think if I heard Jesus say what Henry said, I would be utterly destroyed. The truth is, we are just like them. We are dead in our sin. We live in darkness, we love it even! And Jesus knows it. But He still romances us anyway! He brings us into His Kingdom, out of darkness and into light.
When Satan accuses us, Jesus looks him square in the eye and says, "I know. I have forgiven her. She is blameless in my sight." I also imagine him giving us kiss on the cheek after He says that.
In other news, I started working a little bit on my own Cinderella story. It's been sitting on my computer for months and months. I finally opened it up again.