12 Powerfrul Truths I Hope My Children Learn From Disney's (Live Action) Cinderella
I took my 5 year old daughter to go see the new Cinderella Movie last night as a birthday present.
We went along with my Sister and her daughter, my mother and our sweet friend who is like an unofficially adopted sister. That's Right GIRLS NIGHT OUT!!! The Little girls both put on their favorite princess dress up and us big girls donned our sparkling tiaras.
What did I think of the Cinderella Movie?
Personally I LOVED it. I don't buy many movies these days, but this is one that I am going to buy as soon as it is released on DVD. The makers of this latest version did a great job of paying homage to Disney's old animated version (which was inspired by Charles Perrault's French retelling found in Andrew Lang's The Blue Fairy Book published in 1889) while giving the characters and story a lot more depth and dimension.
Most importantly Just like in the older versions of this classic tale it was packed with wit, wisdom, and counsel that was good, clean, and inspiring. This was quite refreshing in a world where most movies are filled with hidden messages that I DON'T want my children to pick up on.
Here are 12 Powerful truths That I HOPE my children learn from Disney's live action Cinderella:
1&2 - Believe in Everything/ The influence of Mothers.
I love the scene where Young Ella is with her mother and her mother proclaims, "I believe in Everything." To which Ella responds, "Well then, I Believe in Everything." This scene actually teaches two powerful messages.
The first message is about believing. I honestly ascribe to the notion that anything is possible to those who believe. The second message is about a mother's influence on her children. Children are not only natural mimics but that is how they learn. They see not only what we do but how we do things.
So question?? What lessons about life are our children learning from us by what we say and do?
3 -Be Kind and Have Courage.
As Ella's mother lay on her death bed, she gave her daughter the wise counsel to have courage and be kind. Young Ella took this counsel to heart, and was greatly influenced by it over the course of her life.
How different would the world be if more people embraced the principles of Courage and Kindness?
4- Pain eventually can turn to memory.
After the death of Ella's Mother the narrator tells us that Ella's pain turned to memory. This is a powerful truth. No matter how great the pain you are suffering is, remember that healing is possible. As you heal your pain while not forgotten, can become a memory. Life will go on and bring with it new joys.
5- Everything Happens For A Reason.
If you think about it; would Ella have ever met the prince if she hadn't been fleeing the cruelty of her two malicious step sisters and her step mother? I try to view my trials as stepping stones to greater blessings. When I can do so it makes all the difference in the world.
6- Just because it's done, doesn't mean it should be done.
This is a powerful truth spoken to Prince Kit by Cinderella at their first meeting. Recognizing the truth of this statement Kit went about changing things that needed to be changed in both his live and his kingdom.
7-Inner Beauty is far more powerful then outward.
When the prince sought to describe Ella to his father and why he was so taken with her he said, " “It was her spirit, her goodness,” I am sure in his life the prince had come in contact with many extremely beautiful women of all stations. Yet it was her inner beauty shining though that truly caught his eye and won his heart.
8- Serving Others is a great way to pull yourself out of your problems.
When Ella's first meets her fairy godmother, she is disguised as an old beggar woman who ask for a bowl of milk. Ella is pulled out of her grief and frustration as she moves to serve. When thanked Ella replied that it was only a bowl of milk, to which her fairy godmother answered “What is a bowl of milk? Nothing, but kindness is everything." In the end it wasn't just the stranger who was blessed by that act of kindness but also Ella herself. For when we serve others our own problems are brought into better perspective.
9- Don't Let Setback stop You.
Throughout the movie there were potential roadblock or setbacks to Ella's Happiness (The deaths of her loving parents, the cruelty of her stepsisters and step mother, the poverty and degradation of her reduced circumstances, her chances destroyed for going to the ball with her torn dress, the midnight clause, being locked away in her room, being a commoner and not a princess...)and yet each time her character was able to overcome with a combination of Faith, Hope, Kindness, Courage and undaunted spirit.
10- Be Creative in solving your Problems.
This lessons goes along with the last one. When you face a roadblock try to think outside the box for a solution. Whether it is thinking to use a pumpkin for a carriage, or a glass slipper to find a bride this movie shows that creativity wins the day.
11- “To be seen as we truly are, is the biggest risk we will ever take.
As Cinderella found out ,it takes more courage to be seen as you truly are then to dress in a magic gown and slippers and appear before countless nobility at a royal ball. For the question always arises, " Will we be enough as we really are?” Those who truly matter will answer will always be yes.
12 - Forgiveness is the first step to Happily Ever After.
Before Heading off with Prince Kit to start their Happily Ever After Cinderella turns to her stepmother and she said those powerful words, "I Forgive You." In offering her forgiveness Cinderella was proclaiming that she was letting go. She was letting go of the pain, and anger, and frustration that were the result of years of abuse. She was letting go of the burdens of the past so that she could focus on the love, happiness, and joy that the future with her prince had to offer. Forgiveness in essence set her free.
There were many more powerful gems in this movie have just mentioned a few that stood out to me. What was your favorite gem found in Disney's live action Cinderella?
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