Cinderella stories!  We celebrate Cinderella stories because they are so relatable.  After all, we’ve all been the under-dog and every one of us has felt alone.  Perhaps that’s why, when we are watching a Cinderella fairy tale with our kids, it’s easy for us to worry about all the tough issues that they too, may face someday.

After all, as adults we’ve all struggled with friends or family, we’ve all wrestled with school or work, we’ve fought to compete and the going has not always been easy.  Sometimes it seemed like we had no choice but to win our battles but that winning came with a cost.

It’s because we know about difficult times or tough relationships, that Cinderella stories can inspire us to keep on fighting.  Encourage us to keep trying.  Push us for one more mile, tackle one more math problem, change one more dirty diaper or make one more sales call when we feel like quitting.

And because we’ve all been there.  Everyone of us. . .   We know that our kids will face trouble and difficulties that they will somehow and in some way struggle to overcome.  Your kids and mine – will all have their own Cinderella stories, and quite frankly, it can be very scary.

Perhaps this why parents try so hard to give their kids whatever advantage they can.  We haul our kids to summer hockey camp and winter baseball clinics.  We chauffer them to chess, glee, drama, cooking and craft clubs.  From ice fishing and survival camps we want our kids to be well rounded, intelligent and prepared for the future.

With all this in mind, what if there was an easy way to prepare your kids no matter how high the hurdles or how deep the holes?   What if there was an easy way to make your kids strong and secure, solid, and foundational no matter what difficulties come their way!

Because things will come their way!  Just think how complicated life can be when our kids face peer pressure, rejection, disappointment, failure, injustice and grief.  We know from our own experiences that some things are nearly impossible to overcome – just as Cinderella struggled with her own wicked stepsisters.

Sometimes the enemy whispers lies to our children.  You aren’t as pretty as the other girls.  You’re not as smart, not as fast, not as tall, not quick on your feet, not outgoing enough, not funny or witty or cute.  You are not, not and not.

Other times, Satan will shout adversities and laugh out loud at your kids, like Cinderella’s step-sisters did with her.  He’ll scream you are stupid, ugly, fat, unpopular, unlikeable, uninteresting.  Yes, you are a loser, and no one cares about you.  No one understands you.  No one even wants to understand you.

All of these whispers and shouts have only one purpose in mind.  To destroy your children.  To make them crawl into a hole and live just a shadow of their life’s potential.  To grow up thinking that broken relationships, stress, worries, fear and offense are normal parts of life.

Oh my!  Our children need so bad to be prepared – no matter what comes their way.  And the key to all this preparedness is having a rock solid, unwavering, stronger than any disappointment foundation in their identity.

Yes – their identity.   In who they are and in whose they are.

I heard a story about a young lady’s identity.  It started when a high school track coach watched in awe as the young lady literally flew on two legs, across the parking lot to her friends.  After several attempts the track coach convinced the young lady to finally give track a try – where she quickly discovered how naturally, incredibly fast she really was!

As the season progressed, the young lady began watching her diet and quickly started winning.  When the young lady made the decision to stop social media and get more sleep, her speed continued to improve to the point that she became one of the fastest women in her state.

Just before the season’s final track meet, the young lady’s best friend said, “How about if you sleep at my house and we’ll sneak out to the big party.”  The young lady didn’t hesitate as she said, “That sounds fun, but you know I’m an athlete now, and I’m sorry but I just can’t do that.”

So what really had changed for this lady?  What was different now?  Just like Cinderella – only her identity changed. . .   Who she was and how she saw herself.

So how do your children see themselves?  What is their identity?  Can you imagine the power that our children could have – and could grow up with – if they really and sincerely realized their true identities as children of God!?

What if our kids could wake up every day and say:

• God loves me!
• I am the temple of the Holy Spirit! ^{1 Corinthians 6:19}
• I am a child of God! ^1John5:1

When our children know their true Christian identity – who they really are – the way God sees them, they cannot help but make choices for the better.  Can we even imagine the power in that kind of identity?

We as parents, have absolutely no time to lose.  Our little children need to grow up – starting right now and forever – knowing that they are God’s children.  Knowing that they are precious and one of a kind.  Solid in the fact that God loves them – all the time.

If you’d like to bless your children with this kind of rock-solid identity, we’d like to help.   We have two fantastic children’s books that you will want for your kids.  You can preview them on our website right now.  Your kids!  Let’s have God’s glass slipper fit on them today!