Cinderella: Be generous.
Few of us would blame Cinderella for being a bit bitter. She has lots of reasons to whine. Despite her impressive aristocratic pedigree, her evil stepmother and stepsisters push her around and turn her into a scullery maid, forcing the girl to wait on them constantly. Her circumstances are utterly unfair.
But does Cinderella dump pepper in her stepmother’s coffee? Does she put snakes in her sisters’ beds? No. Throughout her ordeal, the princess is kind and gracious and giving—well beyond the point that most of us would’ve had enough.
Cinderella’s gracious nature is a hard sell today. Some would consider her simply too passive or weak. But the Bible, especially the New Testament, is big on turning the other cheek in even the most extreme circumstances. In fact, the Bible coined the cliché: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.” (Luke 6:27-29)
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