Get rid of the temper, spread some honey

Many times in our lives, we encounter people who simply annoy us – partners who never seem to understand, staff who never get it right, bosses who yell, customers who complain and parents who scold…

We want to make them see our point of view and agree with us.

However, instead of getting our message across correctly, too often, we are quick to allow the fangs of anger to show up, and emit venomous words.

Dale Carnegie said, “If your temper is aroused, and you tell them a thing or two, YOU will have a fine time unloading YOUR feelings.

But what about THE OTHER PERSON?

Will HE share your pleasure?”

Today, I would like to encourage you to ‘’Get rid of the temper, and spread some honey’

To control anger and speak with gentleness….


Why?

Because unleashing your angry emotions is NOT going to win you anything.

BUT by spreading honey, you will win people to your way of thinking.

Proverbs 15:1 in the Bible says: A gentle word deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.


1) First things first – You’ve got to get rid of the temper.

Begin by LISTENING WITH YOUR HEART

When someone does something upsetting or says unpleasant words, our first reactions are usually to get angry or upset.

If we want to get rid of the temper and spread some honey, the very first thing to do is to BE QUIET….Resist the urge to lash out with your tongue or defend yourself. Just listen.

Think from the other person’s perspective. Let others share what they feel and think. Allow them to talk it out and express their emotions. Just listen and try to understand what they are feeling, and what has caused their reactions. Put yourself in their place. Think what they think, feel what they feel. Acknowledge their emotions.

Only then will you know the right words to say – words that will speak straight to their heart.

For example:

One day, I met a very demanding person at work. He yelled out a long list of complaints, condemning my colleague's inefficiency regarding his room. My colleague came running to me, pouring out all the complaints - saying she was so afraid to see the chief interviewer again.

Initially, I felt very annoyed. I thought to myself – “What a snob? Can’t he see for himself that this is an old building? How can he expect a 5-star hotel room in a 30-year old office?

But I told myself to BE QUIET. I listened to all the complaints and tried to think from his perspective. I asked myself, "How would I feel if I were him?"

I gathered that the man had been to many luxurious places. This was probably the first of his worst experience. The minimum facilities came as a shock to him.

My job was to help him adapt to this new situation – not to analyze whether or not he was a snob!

I needed to have the right attitude towards him. I needed to serve with a sincere heart.

When I listened with my heart, then I knew the right words to say.

When you throw away the temper and listen with your heart, you have already won half of the game of getting your ideas across.



2) This brings us to the second step – SPREAD THE HONEY

How do you do this? By SPEAKING THE RIGHT WORDS WITH YOUR MOUTH

Back to my story …. I went over to his room.

I said, “Sir, I’m so sorry that our office is a 30-year old building with minimum facilities. I know this place is so bad compared to the many places you have been to. I feel so embarrassed that we only have this place to offer you. Sir, could you please tell me all your dissatisfaction? … please don’t leave anything out. As your host, we will try our best to make it better.

I picked gentle words to convey my message. I spoke with an empathetic tone. I said it sincerely from my heart.

GENTLE WORDS + EMPATHETIC TONE + SINCERE HEART = HONEY

Then I waited for ‘honey’ to do the job.

The man also went quiet for a while. He looked around for a few moment. He stepped out of his room as I followed behind him.

Then he spoke:

“Yes, this is a really old building. This is the first time I am coming to this place. You don’t need to feel bad. What you have provided is good enough, given such a short notice. I really appreciate your effort. Thank you so much.”

My colleague couldn’t believe it when I told her how nice the man was!

How did gushes of complaints turn into streams of contentment?

The answer lies in spreading the honey.

When you throw a temper, people taste its bitterness. But when you spread honey, people delight in its sweetness.

Had I thrown a temper and spoken my initial thoughts, I am sure his reactions would have been far worse than my staff had experienced!

A sincere apology, gentle words and a little understanding can soften an angry heart.

As the old maxim says, “A drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.”

-JJ-

You Are What You Listen To

People say, “You are what you eat” or “You are what you read.”

Equally true is, “You are what you listen to.”

Yesterday, while I was driving, I had to change the radio stations a couple of times because the songs were just ‘garbage’ to my soul. My ‘’mind filters’’ are very sensitive to WORDS, and rubbish disgusts me.

The tune is catchy, I must admit. Even though I hate it, it keeps playing in my mind…but the WORDS…Goodness, gracious! How can people even sing it?

Imagine! The young people today spend hours listening and singing along to music on their handphones and iPods. Many don’t pay attention to the lyrics or what it means. They simply sing along without realizing that those words are seeping into their souls.

Soon, they become what they listen to.

For example, check out this song - ‘Good Girls Go Bad’ by Cobra Starship

I make them good girls go bad
I make them good girls go
Good girls go bad
(Good girls go bad)

I know your type
You're daddy's little girl
Just take a bite
Let me shake up your world
'Cause just one night couldn't be so wrong
I'm gonna make you lose control

She was so shy
Till I drove her wild

I make them good girls go bad
I make them good girls go bad
You were hanging in the corner
With your five best friends
You heard that I was trouble
But you couldn't resist
I make them good girls go bad
I make them good girls go bad…

Isn’t this the exact scenario of the world today?

The boys take great pride in making ‘good girls go bad.’ These boys happily splash their fountain of life on every ‘Jane, Janet & Mary,” feeling a sense of ‘accomplishment’ about the numbers under their belts – when in fact, they are slaves to their sinful desires. These boys possess a life producing power but are unable to control their desires.

And the ohh….the girls…"I know your type…boy, you’re dangerous…but just one night couldn’t be so wrong..”!!! Then off they go with some Tom, Dick & Harry!

And there you have it, two willing partners on a mission to SIN …"mission accomplished!”

Sadly, many young people these days do not value virginity nor ‘keep it’ till marriage - because they have fallen prey to "mind programming", which causes them not to see their see their self-worth!

If you listen and sing along to this kind of songs everyday till it gets into your brain - you won’t even realize you have become the song!

I feel worried and saddened at how ignorant this world is towards the various techniques that are being used to program our minds.

Whether we are adults, youth or children – our minds are being programmed without our knowledge.

Look around you.

Listen to the music in a club, pub or disco. Will you hear them playing Josh Groban’s “You Raised Me Up?”…or a gospel song, “Amazing grace that saved a wretch like me”….. NO! Definitely NOT!

Instead, you will see youngsters dancing to “Good Girls Go Bad”….or Jennifer Lopez’s lyrics “Dance the night away…if you’re an animal, get on the floor…”…or Ms Nina’s “Baby, I’ve never seen someone with that body…I want to make you lose control…”

On the other hand, compare the songs you will hear in a church…lyrics such as, “Change my heart or God, make it ever true”…..”My sins are forgiven, I am a new person”….”I once was lost, but now I’m found”…….

Why is this so?

One simple answer – MIND PROGRAMMING (you can google search ‘mind control’ and ‘mind programming’ for more info)

When do boys make good girls go bad? When do girls want to lose control?

Is it after they come out of a church, or after a drink at the pub?

Words have power. Music has power – they can work to ignite flames of desire or feelings from within you, without you realizing it (it can be good or bad).

You don’t believe it?

Sit down and just listen to the lyrics of the songs on the radio, or in the disco. How do you feel?

Next, listen to Mozart or some romantic, slow love songs. How do you feel?

Listen to Martin Luther King’s freedom speech. How do you feel?

Listen to someone telling you off? How do you feel?

Do you remember the young killers who suddenly took out guns and killed their schoolmates in America? Or teenagers who killed their parents?

Do you know one thing they had in common? They listened to heavy metal music before committing the murder – songs with lyrics that said, “Kill….don’t be afraid….just do it…I’m tired of this life….let’s end it….”

Look at the lives of people who spend their time listening to good music (classical, instrumental, love songs, gospel, praise & worship etc.) or great speeches (motivational talks, sermons etc.)– generally, they are more patient, passionate about life with a purpose, nice, and do better in studies.

Compare them with those who feed their minds with ‘rubbish’ – words with no substance - pubs & clubs type music, heavy metal etc…. – generally, they are impatient, rough, do not have a sense of purpose in life, and are quick to give in to their fleshly desires.

It’s a FACT – WORDS and RHYTHM affect your mind, and thus behavior.

Doctors use it to calm you during therapy. Counselors utilize it to encourage you. Motivational speakers use the right words and intonation to inspire you. Even politicians use it to make you believe.

Likewise, the world can also use music & words to corrupt your mind and cause bad behavior.

But the question is, do you even realize it - the power of words and rhythm in your life?

Analyze your whole life. Have you already allowed the world to program your mind?

Think about it – your mind is constantly being bombarded with words and rhythm wherever you go.

Whether you like it or not, YOU ARE ALREADY BEING PROGRAMMED, little by little, day by day.

But it’s NOT too late!

The CHOICE is YOURS!

Be selective – filter what goes into your heart & mind.

When it comes to food, you know how to diet - you avoid oily & fattening food because it’s not good for your health. When you put on weight, you can see it and quickly start to cut down on food.

But the heart & mind – you can’t see it! That’s why it’s so easy to neglect it!

But in fact, the same applies to your soul – avoid rubbish! Fill your ears & mind with good things that will benefit you. Not just music, but also words that people say, or words that you read.

If you have children, pay attention to what they listen to (songs, speeches, books they read etc). From a young age, as parents, feed their minds with good things - so that when they grow up, they will know what garbage is when they listen to it. Speak words of encouragement and blessings to them. Then, when they love goodness from young, it will be difficult for the world and sin to penetrate.

But if the foundation is not laid, the spirit is weak… thus the world has the upper hand and the mind is very vulnerable to being programmed.

So, KNOW the difference between good and bad.

Listen to good stuff! Pay attention to words & lyrics. Switch radio stations if it’s crap. Avoid negative topics that demoralize you. Walk away politely if you can. If there’s nothing you can do anything about it – FILTER it in your head. Replace them with positive and godly thoughts. Pray in your heart.

Don’t allow the WORDS (sound, spoken or written) and RYTHM (music, tone of voice etc.) to stimulate desires or feelings (eg: lust, depression, anger etc) that do not benefit you.

INTENTIONALLY SELECT WHAT YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO.

PROTECT YOUR HEART & MIND because it determines your ACTIONS.

The Bible teaches us the perfect WEAPON against mind programming:

Ephesians 6:10-18

The Whole Armor of God

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[b] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[c] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.[d]

FIGHT mind control! REPROGRAM your mind today!

The BATTLE is on…

By, JJ.

A Poem : Do You Listen With Your Heart?

Do you hear when the leaves rustle?
Do you feel it when the gentle wind blows?
Do you sip a glass of orange juice bit by bit?
Do you taste the flavor of flour that coats a piece of cake?

Do you see the little spider crawling?
Do you touch the morning dew on a blade of grass?
Do you sniff the scent of your own perfume?
Do you hear a soft cry in a crowded place bustling with noise?

Do you read between the lines of a sentence?
Do you hear beyond the words that are spoken?
Do you understand further than logic or reason?
Do you hug someone even when they make mistakes?

Do you hold back your words when someone deserves to be scolded?
Do you remember your childhood days when you wished to be understood?
Do you love even when it makes it you angry?
Do you listen with your heart?

By JJ.

The Power of Your Words

In her best-selling book, “The Secret,” Rhonda Byrne details how you can alter your life and feelings by changing the words you speak.

In his new-age bestseller, “The Law of Attraction,” Micheal J. Losier, explains how to attract good things into your life by replacing negative thoughts and words with positive ones.

Both Rhonda Byrne & Micheal J. Losier give similar examples. Eg: If you don’t have money, don’t keep saying “I don’t have money.” Instead, replace those negative words with positive ones. Say, “I am having money.”

According to this school of thought, your subconscious mind will change your behavior and attitude towards money, thus attracting the riches that you’ve been dreaming of.

The key, as they say, lies in getting the right words and thoughts to sink into your subconscious mind (in other words, your heart & soul).

Even Napolean Hill, in his classic, “Think & Grow Rich” advocates the same idea. Donald Trump, the tycoon, is also famous for saying “Think Big.” These people’s lives prove the notion that it is possible to speak things into existence.

Now a simple question – What do you use to think? What do you use to describe your feelings? What do you use to speak? What do you use to pray?

A simple answer – WORDS.

So, it’s not too much to say, your life is made up of WORDS!

All these famous best-selling writers agree that the most successful people in life have realized this power and harnessed it to their benefit - while the rest of the world sits and accepts fate as an inevitable cycle.

Although many of these books and ideas have gained popularity in recent years, these concepts are not new at all.

Even more than 2000 years ago, Romans 4:17 in the Bible says “...call those things which are not as if they were...”

These words sum up the ideas in “The Secret” and “The Law of Attraction” – if you desire for something to happen, THINK about it as if it has already happened. TALK about it as if it has already happened. SPEAK to the situation. FEEL it as if it has already happened – regardless of the current situation.

And what do you use to do that? – WORDS

While on earth, Jesus healed the sick, made the blind see and the lame walk, with the power of His Words. When people pray, I have seen the sick being cured instantly. Even I have experienced instant healing a few times, just harnessing this power – by saying and believing I am healed, in Jesus’ Name. This is the same power He has given to those of us who believe.

I cannot imagine my condition if I simply accept my situation as fate. If I choose to wait for life’s cycle to turn around, then I wonder how long it would take.

It’s true, life has its ups and downs. But whether you ride on the waves like a proud surfer, or drown beneath, depends on what you THINK, SPEAK and ACT.

And you do that with WORDS.

Truly, this concept has existed since the beginning of time. The Bible says:

John 1:1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

God Himself SPOKE the entire universe into existence, with the WORD! This is the beginning of Creation.

And He has given the same power to us today – to speak things into existence.

...if we BELIEVE...


By, JJ

THE MEANING OF NOTHING

John 15:5-7

Jesus said, ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

“Apart from me, you can do nothing.” These words kept echoing in my mind long after I read them.

“What do You mean - NOTHING?” I asked God. “Everyone does a lot of things every day, whether or not they believe in You, and many of these people are extremely rich, famous, talented and kind! In fact, I am nothing, compared to them.”

Anyway, I prayed, “Jesus, teach me what it means to be NOTHING, apart from You.”

The next day, I came to work as usual, and began downloading some programs online. All of a sudden, a very genuine looking message popped up on my screen. It was called “Windows Care Tool” and appeared to be from Microsoft. Then, the message notified me that viruses had been detected in my files, and it offered to download a solution. Not thinking too much about it, I accidentally clicked on “OK” to download.

Then I thought again, “Based on experience, a genuine offer will always give you a choice to reject. There was no, ‘Deny’, ‘Reject’ or ‘Ask me later’ option on the screen. Only ‘OK’.

‘Oh, dear! How stupid could I be! I just willingly downloaded a virus!” I came to my senses.

That’s when the whole problem began. It was totally impossible to get rid of the pop up message that kept telling me to scan my computer and purchase a software. I could open all my files and documents, type and save on my computer, but I could not access THE INTERNET! How frustrating!!!!

Then I tried every possible spyware and malware scans, but the virus was very smart to terminate the scan even before it started! I got my technical girl to help me, and we both tried everything to camouflage the antivirus to avoid detection, but we just couldn’t do it! I tried everything I could, and I searched for a solution like my life depended on it!

Technical advice said that it was possible to get back internet access without a thorough clean up, but the virus would create havoc to the computer in the long run. So, finally, after a whole day of trying, I gave up and sent it to the shop for a clean–up. Without the internet, I felt that I had lost my life, because I am online for about 50% of the day. Now, I feel like I have my life back!

Through it all, I realized that God had taught me a very good lesson.

The meaning of ‘NOTHING’ - we can have it all and yet have nothing.

Life can give us illusions of what’s real. Just like the virus that popped up on my screen – it offered to give me a genuine solution to my problems, when it was the malicious father of all the viruses!

I could perform all the usual functions on my computer even with its presence, but really, I could do nothing without being connected to the internet. Even if I could find an alternative way to get online, I would be killing my computer system softly inside, while enjoying the surfing.

What I have learned is that the verse is very true. I can do nothing, without being connected to my Source of Life. I want to spend the rest of my life in absolute surrender - being a branch, that realizes I am a useless piece of stick if I am not connected to the tree.

My very breath is from God. He could take my life any minute He wants to. My parents do not belong to me either. Their lives are also at the mercy of their Maker. Neither is my lover really mine; there is no guarantee he’ll be with me for always. Every gift, talent and material possession in life could also be wiped out in an instant – an accident, a terminal disease, an act of nature etc. Everything I have been given is purely by His grace.

But the deceiver within is smart and tends to reject the ‘antivirus’ that is trying to save us, even before it can start the healing process. The thoughts in our minds tell us that we are all that we want to be, enjoying life to the fullest. But just like that virus, it will ultimately consume us. Evil deceives us and makes us want it, but a genuine offer to save always gives us the free will to accept or reject.

Thus, I have come to realize, in life, I am nothing and I own nothing. God is not my greatest possession. Jesus is, in fact, the only thing that I could ever have, in this life and hereafter.

Then may I ask for what I wish, and may it be done for me.

-JJ-

UNTANGLING THE TANGLED TALE, RAPUNZEL

Last weekend, I finally watched a movie after a very long time – Rapunzel: A Tangled Tale. I’ve always loved fairy tales, animations and musicals, so I sat in the cinema seat with eagerness, waiting for the ‘golden screen’ to unravel the much anticipated twists and turns to the classic German story.

Before the movie started, I felt a tap on my shoulder a couple of times. I looked around, but those around seemed quiet. After a few mysterious taps, I must admit I began to wonder if that seat was haunted! “Oh, dear! I whined to myself, “I have picked a very bad seat…How am I going to enjoy this movie?’ But, it wasn’t haunted. Just when the movie started, the teenage boy behind me held my shoulder, and asked me for my phone number. I asked him, “Why?’ and proceeded saying, “It’s not necessary.” He got angry and said “You’re selfish…why not?”… My spontaneous response was, "My husband (if I had one, ha ha) would be very upset if I gave my number to boys! And that silenced him from that moment…ha ha… but that’s another story.

I soon made myself comfortable, and what I’m about to share are the lessons that untwisted themselves from this fresh, hilarious and adventurous escapade.

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION (if you haven’t watched it)

And so, the enchanting movie begins; an adorable little princess was born in the palace, unto the King and Queen. The Queen’s life was in danger when delivering Rapunzel, but the healing powers of a special flower saved her. The glowing flower was only one if its kind in the whole land, and once the plant was uprooted, the plant was lost forever. Somehow, the flower’s healing powers found its rebirth in little baby Rapunzel – in her hair. When a special song was sung, her hair glowed in the dark, healing and reversing time.

What everyone didn’t know was that there existed an old woman who selfishly used this flower to remain young for hundreds of years! When the only flower plant was taken to the palace, she needed to find a way to get its power. And soon, she discovered that the flower’s power lied in Rapunzel’s hair. Cutting the baby’s hair killed the magic, so she kidnapped the innocent child for her personal benefit. This super old woman (who looks young) raised Rapunzel as her own child. She locked Rapunzel high up in a tower, away from the outside world.

And when Rapunzel turns 18, that’s when the whole thrill begins - her quest to see for real, what she had always viewed from afar! She longed to see the ‘stars’ that appeared in the skies particularly on her birthday – a dream made possible by the unexpected arrival of a wanted bandit!

SIGNIFICANT CHARACTERS & ELEMENTS

1. THE EVIL OLD WOMAN (Rapunzel’s kidnapper who pretends to be her Mom)

The old woman deceives Rapunzel and pretends to be her mother. She only wants Rapunzel for the power her hair possesses, and she would do anything to keep it forever. To me, she represents Satan. The Bible tells us that Satan is the father of all lies (John 8:44).

Just like Satan, this old woman does not have Rapunzel’s best interest at heart. She gives Rapunzel a good life up there in the tower, everything in fact, to curb her longing to know the truth. The truth – that Rapunzel is actually a Princess, that those ‘stars’ on her birthday are lanterns lighted up by her royal parents, hoping for her return some day.

The old woman even cunningly orchestrates some events to make herself look like the ‘good guy’, in her attempt to make Rapunzel return to the tower after she runs away. Her evil schemes send innocent Rapunzel running into Mommy’s arms with gratitude, not knowing the harm she has carefully planned.

‘Oh gosh!” I thought to myself…"If that had happened to me, I might have fallen for the old woman’s trick 100%! This is really bad! How naïve!” Sometimes it’s difficult to detect lies from those we trust, especially if we have never doubted in the first place.

Can we identify Satan or are we victims to his lies?

2. THE TOWER - A PLACE OF REFUGE OR PRISON?

Rapunzel grew up in a beautiful tower, equipped with everything she could ask for, yet not everything her heart was longing for. She was not locked with chains, but her mind was firmly bound by the lies of the old woman. Even though she had the ability to come out of the tower with her 70 feet long hair, she never dared to step out... Not even once! Ohh….'Mommy’ said it was just too dangerous…men with fangs, all those people who wanted her hair…. The evil old woman had constantly fed negative thoughts into little Rapunzel for years, that she never dared to even attempt a ‘quick stroll’ out of curiosity.

Our mind is the battle field ( 2 Corinthians 10:4-5). If the Devil captures our mind, he’s got us! Then, he doesn’t need to tie up our hands and feet. We may unwittingly do Satan’s bidding, and even think that it’s the best thing for us to do. The worst part is, we may not even know we’re in bondage.

As I watched this awesome movie, I felt that I had also been in a ‘tower’ before, never having the guts to step out. I believe we can all relate to some situations in our lives where we had been bound by our own thoughts – lies that have been thrown to us by the Devil through people or ideas; that make us feel inadequate to leave, or become too complacent to live within a ‘prison’.

So, the question is, what is our ‘tower’? For how long do we plan to remain there comfortably and lose the experience of a lifetime?

3. THE KING AND QUEEN - FAITH, HOPE & LOVE

The royal parents portray a beautiful story of faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Since the kidnapping of baby Rapunzel, their hearts ached with overwhelming pain. Yet, they never gave up hope. Because of love towards their child, every year (for 17 years!), they would light up and send thousands of lanterns into the sky on Rapunzel’s birthday. They continued to hope that someday, Rapunzel would return to them. They believed and hoped by faith (Hebrews 11:1).

Are we still hopeful when the results take time to appear?

The King’s heart also represents never-ending love towards his child. Knowing that his daughter is lost and may not know him, he provides a sign for her to find him – the light of thousands of lanterns; so that she can find him one day, and come back home to where she belongs.

For me, this depicts the love of God the Father in Heaven, who welcomes us with open arms. Knowing that we humans were lost, He sent His Son, Jesus to be the Light – so that we can see Him. Even while we do not know Him, He gives us chances after chances to come back into His arms.

Have we found our way home?

4. THE BANDIT - WANTED OR UNWANTED?

The bandit finds Rapunzel’s tower by accident – seeking refuge while being chased by armed soldiers, for stealing the royal crown. He guides the beautiful Rapunzel to the lantern lighting event because he has no choice (she hides his prized stolen crown in exchange for ‘tour’ around the ‘real world’). Eventually, even the thief learns to love, against his self-centered nature. In the final thrilling scenes, Rapunzel offers to exchange her entire life to be a prisoner to the old woman, just to heal the dying bandit with her magic hair. But the bandit cuts off Rapunzel’s hair before she can heal him, ridding her hair of all power because he knows that’s the only thing the wicked ‘mother’ wants. He is willing to sacrifice his life for her happiness because he has known love.

Love always wins - his life is restored by Rapunzel’s tears. Eventually they get married, and the once bandit becomes a prince! Even a seemingly unimportant person can rise to heights beyond imagination.

In the same way, a person who has known the love and sacrifice of Christ will not remain the same. The old and bad goes, and a new nature takes its place, because of the discovery of Love. And God takes care of the rest.

1 John 4:8 in the Bible tells us that God is Love.

Do we really know Love?

5. MAXIMUS - YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOUR FRIEND CAN BE

Maximus, a horse from the palace, is the arch enemy of the wanted bandit. His ultimate aim is to catch the bandit at whatever cost! While Rapunzel eases the discord just for the sake of her birthday, Maximus and the bandit never meet eye to eye. The bandit constantly sees Maximus as an enemy. Yet, in the final hour, when the bandit needs help, it is this very same Maximus who comes to his aid. Maximus shows love to his enemy.

Sometimes there are people in our lives who annoy us to the maximum, and just seem to be our enemy. But we may never know how God could use them to help us in times of need, someday, somewhere. Even if these ‘enemies’ may never cross our paths again, for the sake of love, I find the words of Christ very true to practice – “Love your enemies…” (Matthew 5:44).

Have we learnt to love our enemies?

6. AT LAST BUT NOT LEAST - RAPUNZEL!

Charming and adventure loving Rapunzel is kept hidden from the world outside, in the so called safety of the tower. She is kidnapped as a baby and has no idea that she is a true Princess! She doesn’t have the slightest clue that her Father is a King. She doesn’t know that her royal parent’s are searching for her, and light up the skies with lanterns every year for her birthday.

Yet, there is a longing in her heart to find out what those extraordinary stars are – the one thing that would lead to the truth of her identity, though she didn’t realize it then. “Where did this longing come from?” we could ask ourselves. I’m somehow reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:11 where the Bible says God has planted eternity in human heart. To me, this represents the longing and search we have within us to know the truth – to find out about something that is beyond us.

Deep inside Rapunzel, the Princess longed to shine as she rightfully ought to rise (though she did not even know it). She may have been falsely raised as the daughter of a wicked old woman, confined in the walls of an incredibly lonesome tower. Yet, it doesn’t change the fact that Rapunzel IS the daughter of a King. Circumstances had suppressed her for a long time from knowing the Truth, but it couldn’t stop her forever.

I note one very interesting thing about Rapunzel’s escapade in this twisted tale – a knight with shining armor did not come and sweep her off her feet from the tower. Instead, she left the tower on her own free will, with a bandit. She was willing to take the risk; to leave her comfort zone and follow her dream

The bandit seemed to appear by coincidence, but in fact, nothing is ever truly by chance. There is always a purpose to it. The bandit was an opportunity; it was up to Rapunzel, what she did with it.

Rapunzel was a true Princess, but she would have never known it if she had never left the tower. She would continue to live and die as the child of the wicked old woman. Thankfully, she chose to leave the tower and chase her dream.

Finally, through all the turns of events, her eyes were opened to see who she really was – the daughter of a King. After she ran away, she was captured and locked up again in the tower, this time her hands and feet bound (because her mind was already set free, and this was dangerous to the wicked old woman). Because she realized who she really was – a Princess - she fought against the evil that bound her! At last, she is reunited with her royal parents.

I see myself in Rapunzel’s shoes, as probably many of us will. I have a choice, whether to stay or to leave. To continue to be afraid and just find comfort in the ‘tower,’ or to step out and rise up to what I was born to be. Galations 3:26 in the Bible, tells us that we are Sons and Daughter’s of God, in Christ Jesus. Yet, often times, we sell ourselves short and let Satan take captive of us.

Sometimes I look at my life and reflect, “Do you think, walk and talk, like your Heavenly Father is the King? Do you worry, or rest assured that your Father is rich enough to provide your needs? Do you let the Devil control your mind, or do you unleash your true potential? Do you just accept the chains that Satan has tied around your hands and feet, or do you fight with the Power within? By faith, do you really see yourself as a child of God - a child of the all Powerful Creator of Heaven and Earth - the King?

God has a master plan for our lives, and He lays the opportunities, people and signs on our path. God has given us the physical and mental abilities to carry out the plans and purposes He has placed in our hearts. But I also remember that Satan is on a mission to stop that prosperous plan from materializing.

Circumstanses may blur reality, but nothing can change the Truth. What must happen will happen, but the choices for our life are in our own hands.

As the movie ends, I leave the hall with the joys of truth being untangled from the tangled tale.

By JJ

You Get What You Want, But Lose What You Had

Quite recently, I watched “The Princess and the Frog” cartoon. I found it extremely entertaining from the beginning to the end, with songs of substance. One line of the lyrics particularly stuck with me, “You get what you want but lose what you had…”

A prince, who had been cut off from his royal family for being an irresponsible playboy, is ensnared by a fortune teller who claims he can read his future. This mystic entices him into believing that he can change his life through voodoo, and the prince finally agrees. The minute he shakes hands with the mystic, the transformation begins. To the prince’s utter disgust, he finds himself reduced to a frog, and is left to find his way to break the curse.

In the dark and eerie background, the mystic and his ‘friends from the other side’ echo these words,” Can you feel it? … You're changin', all right!...I hope you're satisfied…But if you ain't. Don't blame me. You can blame my friends on the other side!....You got what you wanted! But you lost what you had!

It is a little scary at times, to see the extent that people would go to get what they want. Human desires are so powerful that we want to have what we want, at the exact moment, if possible. I have heard of some people who have visited witch doctors to make themselves ‘invincible’ to obtain whatever they desire. There are also those who misuse their intelligence and resort to cheating innocent victims.

Through my observations, some of these people strive to get what they want. With determination and persistence, they sure did – but sadly, not by using the right means. They got what they wanted, but they certainly lost what they had, some beyond retrieval.

In Relationships:

Wanted: Pleasure, happiness and the thrill of momentous lust
Means: Illicit affairs or irresponsible behavior
Cost: Beautiful friendships / love of a lifetime, integrity & trust
From friendships to affairs -things may never be the same again…

In Search of Fame:

Wanted: To rub shoulders with important and famous people
Means: Favors beyond values and beliefs & changing oneself to please everybody
Cost: Dignity, self-identity, innocence & sincerity, integrity, sense of right or wrong, and the sincere people around you

You may only realize what kind of person you have become, after you have already lost so much…

In Making Money:

Wanted: To be rich quickly
Means: Participating in immoral and unlawful businesses
Cost: Integrity, tarnished reputation (if caught), hurt lives, true love and friendships

Everything is money, but money is NOT everything…the means to the end DO matter….

Sometimes we humans tend to forget that some things in life can be sold, but never bought back. Some things can be purchased with money, but never sold in return. And there are others that can neither be bought nor sold.

The fact that life is like a circle tends to evade our memories. If something doesn’t get back to us now, it may hit on our children or grand children. In fact, some of the blessings or curses that we experience today may actually come from the seeds of good or evil sown by our forefathers. What goes around comes around.

While contemplating this, I look at my own life. There are days that I wish for a change; something new, something better. Maybe a little difference in my lifestyle, location, experiences etc. At times, opportunities are laid along the way. But they never fail to bring me back to this - I may get what I want, but am I willing to lose what I had?

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
Matthew 16:22 (The Bible, New Living Translation)