Cinderella on Forgiveness

(Spoiler alert!) 

We watched the new Cinderella with the family last night. Wonderful remake in my opinion. I was especially impressed by the focus on forgiveness at the end. Cinderella completely forgives her wicked stepmother, even tho the stepmother never repented of her wickedness. Nor did she apologize. The result is Cinderella is 100% free to live happily ever after. It's so biblical. Just look up "forgiveness." But did you know there were many who did not like the ending of this renewed fairy tale? That's right. A good number of wanted to see punishment and revenge.

According to interviews by Bryan Alexander of NBC, Forgiveness was Debated in the Ending. 

People wanted scenes where the stepmother was definitively stripped of her wealth and seen begging on the streets," says Branagh. "It was interesting to see audiences split along lines on an ending that celebrated forgiveness or in punishment, retribution and revenge.

"It indicates how interestingly difficult some people find the generosity of spirit, self-sacrifice and ability to turn the other cheek that Cinderella has," says Branagh. "Some people are irritated by it; they see it as being a patsy or a victim. The story exposes the rawness of those feelings."

It's amazing how so many people think that if they can only see revenge, justice, retribution, or punishment on those who hurt them it will make them happier. But it does not. Unforgiveness only leads to one thing: misery. God warns of this and commands us to forgive. 

Matthew 6:12;Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.*   Matthew 6:14;For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.*   Matthew 6:15;But if you do not forgive me their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.*   Matthew 9:6;But so that you may know that the Son of Man* has authority on earth to forgive sins..." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home."   Matthew 18:21;Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?* Up to seven times?"*   Matthew 18:35;"This is how my heavenly Father Will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."*  Colossians 3:13;Bear with each other* and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.*

It's important to follow God's instruction. He provides it so that we might be free. We can choose to be courageous and kind, as did Cinderella, who then lived with a prince. Or we can hold onto bitterness and un-forgiveness and end up imprisoned by our emotions, just as did the Stepmother. It's our choice.