The Mark Of A Real Fairy Tale

The Mark of a Real Fairy Tale

Dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8

Once upon a time there was a prince who wanted to marry a princess, but she would have to be a real princess, and there were many counterfeits. You remember the story. The king traveled all over the world to find one, but nowhere could he get what he wanted. Finally one evening the old king heard a knock at the city gate, and it was a woman claiming to be a princess. But to find out for sure, the queen devised a plan. She took off all the bedding from the guest’s bed and laid a pea on the bottom; then she took twenty mattresses and laid them on the pea. In the morning the princess was asked how she had slept. Because she mentioned having felt an uncomfortable lump in the bed, her fate was decided. The prince now knew he had a real princess.

Hans Christian Andersen wrote that story in 1835, and published it on May 8 for the entertainment of children. But all these years later, we think there is a little lesson in it for every married couple. What is it? That a true “prince” or “princess” notices the little things. Especially those little things that can make a big and positive difference.

For example, a “real” husband or wife recognizes when his or her spouse needs an extra hand with bringing in the groceries, or is feeling overwhelmed by something at work and could use a tender back rub. In other words, a sensitive and responsive spouse is on the lookout for ways to be helpful.

Aside from looking out for little needs, “real” husbands and wives also recognize the positive little things that go unnoticed by most. When their spouses take out the trash, they say thanks. Like the princess and the pea, they notice a change in the bed—like when the bed has been freshly made with clean sheets—or when their partners have picked up the coat they left hanging over the back of a chair, or filled the car with gas, or when they took care to make the yard look nice.

Bottom line is we strengthen our marriages whenever we take time to lend a hand and whenever we notice and appreciate the little things our partners do to help us out. Little acts of kindness go unacknowledged, and eventually undone, in most marriages. Don’t let yours be one of them. In fact, you may want to say thanks right now for something little you’ve noticed today that your spouse said or did.

Every man’s life is a fairy tale written by God’s fingers.

—Hans Christian Andersen