At our family movie night with my parents last week, we watched Cinderella. It is a stunningly beautiful movie with a beautiful message. It’s about a mistreated girl who listened to her dying mother’s last words to be courageous and kind, no matter how hard it was.

Time and time again, Cinderella just swallowed her hurt when her step-mother and step-sisters were cruel: when they wouldn’t let her eat with them; when they called her Cinderella because of the soot on her face; when they took her room and made her live in the attic; and when they tore her mother’s dress apart. Yes, it hurts when others put is down, take advantage of us, or mistreat us.

And sometime it takes great courage to be kind in the face of such hurt.

Our society is big on self-sufficiency and not being treated as a doormat. We applaud those who stand up for themselves and demand their rights instead of letting others walk all over them, but I think that is where the courage part comes in.

It takes courage to face opposition with kindness and to turn the other cheek.

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded and show sympathy, love, compassion, and humility to and for each other– not paying back evil with evil or insult with insult, but repaying the bad with a blessing. It was this you were called to do, so that you might inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-9

“Even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you will receive a blessing. Don’t let them frighten you. Don’t be intimidated, but exalt Him as Lord in your heart.” 1 Peter 3: 14-15

And inherit a blessing is what Cinderella did! She got the Prince! Not because of how beautiful she looked at the ball. She had already captured the Prince’s heart while wearing rags, and he was smitten by her courageous and kind heart.

Living in kindness takes courage at times, but we are up to the task. We have the Lord on our side and can stand firm in the knowledge that He has our back no matter what. Our courage and kindness brings a smile to His face.

So have courage and be kind today.

You will find blessing indeed.

**I am not condoning any kind of abuse in marriage or in families. That is never okay. While we can be kind in return, it truly does not make it right and we do not have to stay in those types of relationships.**