Once upon a time…

there lived a girl of average age and "good looks". Her family and friends were the best that she could buy with the riches she had so diligently attained; for as far as the things that were most important, she considered herself wealthy beyond reason. She had a big heart and perhaps even bigger dreams, dreams that she hoped would one day parallel with reality. The moments when her dreams and realities seemed miles off course were the moments in which she felt the greatest amount of unrest. Life was not unbearable but it seemed somewhat incomplete, for when she looked in the mirror she found herself staring through her reflection instead of into it, unable to see what was beyond.


Despite what past experience had taught her, she still believed in love. Daydreams told her that perhaps she should just wait for the "Prince" to come home. Surely, he would help her to see what she had been missing in her own reflection. But wait in vain she did... when he decided to disappear into the sunset without her. She deceived many by masking her pain into indifference as she tried to fill the hole with anything that would stick. In her melancholy mood she recalled the wise council given by her father as he once hugged her, and opened the front door explaining,  "I want you to notice, that the sun did come out today." She realized that her happiness and the person she would become should never be left up to anyone else, besides herself.

And the world began to change.

Her world did not change drastically, or all at once, nor did she have an idea of where she would begin. Regardless, she knew that she could make a difference in her own life. Soon after, a window of opportunity opened. It felt much like the open front door her father had shown her. It would take her to a place very distant. She prayed and fasted and prayed even more until she knew that this was what the Lord would have her do. Indeed she would have to leave a great deal of her riches behind, but she knew she would have much to gain.

As she exited the car at the airport her first impulse was to RUN. Run back to everything that was comfortable. She shook as she carried her luggage to the check in. Indeed this would not be easy. After a delayed flight, missing her connection, and being unable to find her ride in the new foreign land, she finally arrived and met the people that would be her "family" for the following 15 months. She was excited.

Her surroundings were very different, but she welcomed them. She was so focused on adjusting that she, at first, failed to see the monsters behind the angel faces. "What were you  thinking?!" Was often a question that crossed her mind, and the lips of many who came to know her. Knowing that she could choose to leave at any time, she forged ahead determined to learn whatever the Lord would teach her. She was often discouraged, and spent past exhaustion. Instead of leaving, she ran... she pondered... she prayed. Little by little she began to see the "monsters" as children who were, such a short time ago, living with their loving Heavenly Father. She knew that that Father loved her too, for she was learning to see the children as he did. She  was opportune to travel to other lands and see things that had only before existed in books, and through the memories of others. As she began to see all these things, she finally began to see herself. She had not obtained a magic mirror, but she was now looking through different eyes. She was overwhelmed at the person she was becoming as much as her heart was overflowing with love.

Days and weeks then months had passed, as she felt her life moving toward yet another new beginning. The invitation to stay tempted her at times. She did not look forward to the holes in her heart that would be created when she would have to leave, for it is hard when you love something that is not truly yours. However, she decided to do as much as she could in her allotted time hoping to make even a small imprint in a place that had refined her.  She didn't like to think about it, but one day, she would go on... in a continuation of her story.

And her world would change.

She would be a girl, of average age and "good looks" and as far as the things that are most important, she would be even richer than she could have imagined. She would have an even bigger heart with even greater dreams, in which she had faith would someday parallel with reality.

Because of what past experiences had taught her, she would still believe in love... in all of its forms. And, when the way becomes dark and dreary she'll remember that the sun will come out.

"Life is not a fairytale, but it can be if you make it that way" ~Anya May