A Cinderella Story

by Dottie D.

I grew up wanting to get married and live happily ever after, just like Cinderella. When Charlie proposed to me, I carefully laid the groundwork for my dream. ‘I’m going to put you first in my life,’ I said. ‘Will you put me first in your life?’ He said he would.

But as soon as the honeymoon was over, Charlie’s courting stopped. He wanted to focus on his career. I felt disappointed and left out. For the next 12 years, I courted him, trying to get him to love me the way I wanted to be loved. But the harder I tried, the more he pulled away.

The fairytale ended

I grew depressed as Charlie’s career skyrocketed. I was excited for him when he began training to go to the moon. However, I was more looking forward to it being over. Inside I was thinking, ‘when this is over, he will put me first.’

But he didn’t. He had a workaholic impulse. He pursued a list of goals and I was near the bottom. I considered divorce, but I wondered if any man could love me the way I wanted to be loved. Was there even such a thing as the perfect marriage? It didn’t look like it anymore.

Looking for fulfillment

I began to look for things to fulfill me. I tried a career, church work, volunteering and helped the needy. Nothing worked. I even tried drugs. When the marijuana didn’t work, I thought, ‘maybe there is no purpose in life. You just live and die, and that is all there is.’

I began to think about suicide. I was married to a famous man, had a nice home, healthy children, plenty of money, and yet I had no hope.

Our church hosted a “spiritual renewal weekend.�? Charlie and I listened as guests told first-hand stories of how Jesus had made a difference in their lives. They claimed that Jesus answered prayer—something I had never seen happen in my life. They had love and joy.

Since I had tried everything else, I decided to try God. I didn’t know if He was real or if Jesus was the Son of God, I just didn’t want to be in charge of my life any more.

A satisfied love

I started looking to God for fulfillment. I began praying for things, and I got answers! It would happen again and again. I was convinced God existed and that He answered prayer!

With God’s help, I was freed of my anger. I learned how to love Charlie unconditionally whether he loved me back or not.

Today, God comes first. He has taken away my depression, healed our marriage and given me a reason for living. Life is not a fairy tale but God’s love has satisfied my deepest hunger for meaning and purpose in life.

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Living with hope

If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

Is this the life for you?

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.

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Further Reading:
Looking for Acceptance
Not Another Divorce Statistic
Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places