Beauty and the Beast

My family and I have been very fortunate to go to Disney World on two different occasions. We extremely enjoyed both trips, and when I think back on the memories from those trips, one of the first things that comes to mind is the musical “Beauty and the Beast”. We went to watch this musical and enjoyed it so much that we saw it three different times on one trip. It really is a sweet story of love, love that is more than skin deep. Here’s a recap -

Belle’s father takes refuge in Beast’s castle after being lost in a wilderness, chased by wolves. The castle was dirty, scary, seemed abandoned; it was not at all warm and welcoming. Belle searches for her father and discovers her father imprisoned in this cold, seemingly desolate, castle for trespassing. Beast discovers her trespassing as well and attempts to capture her. Belle convinces Beast to free her father and to keep her in exchange. Beast decides against locking her in a cell, instead he allows her to have a room. As he walks her to the room, he demands her to meet him for dinner. Although he doesn’t imprison her to a cell, He only allows Belle in certain areas in the castle and strictly forbids her to enter the special room where the rose measuring the length of his life is stored. As dinner time approaches, Beast paces impatiently, angrily asking what is taking so long for dinner. When the clock strikes dinner time, Belle is no where to be seen, Beast throws a fit.  He repeatedly reacts harshly and hateful.

As the story progresses, Beast at the instruction and care of Belle, becomes increasingly tender and more gentle. After nursing his wounds, Belle begins to see that his bitterness and anger were only a cover for his deep insecurity and rooted fears, which helps her affections for Beast to grow.

It’s only when Beast frees Belle, gives her away, to go back to her father that he realizes how valuable she had been and how much he had grown to love her. Belle goes back to the village and pleads the case for Beast, describing him as loving, kind, and gentle. When Beast’s life is being threatened by the enemy, Gaston, he decides to just let them come, stating it doesn’t matter now. His life no longer mattered without Belle. When he did not have the will to battle, he hears the voice of Belle, causing him to rise up and fight back. He could do anything with the power of his love for her. He took life threatening wounds on her behalf. It was at the declaration of Belle’s love for him and the surrender of his life, that Beast was transformed into a handsome prince.

Pride had made him Beast, love had made him loveable.

Before you read what I’m about to tell you, may I preface our reading with this - I am NOT saying that God is a woman, this is merely a parallel.

Imagine my life, before I allowed Jesus to change me, I was much like Beast. Angry. Upset. Prideful. My heart was untamed. I did not know how to love. Then Jesus, like Belle, came to live with me and although I was unruly at first, He was kind, gentle, pure in heart, and with time, those unruly characteristics in my heart have begun to change, granted, they still have far to go. I am still learning. I am excited to see the end of the story though, the transformation at the moment I lay down my life, just as the last rose petal drops, as one who allowed Love to make me loveable.

“Tale as old as time

Tune as old as song

Bittersweet and strange

Finding you can change

Learning you were wrong

Certain as the sun

Rising in the east

Tale as old as time

Song as old as rhyme

Beauty and the Beast”

Thank you, Sweet Jesus, for loving me even in my beastly state. Thank you that you saw potential in me and stayed with me. Thank you for nursing the wounds the world has placed upon me. Thank you for teaching me tenderness, showing me grace. Thank you for your continual process of polishing me into your finished masterpiece. The slightest touch of your hand overwhelms me. Although I at times shy away from what you ask of me, just as Beast did, I know that I can trust you and your leading. I pray for a willing heart to take your hand in total surrender, letting you lead where we will go. I can chose whether to stay locked in a cold lonely dark castle or experience love, joy and life by taking your hand. A true image of Beauty and the beast.


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