Cinderella’s Wheelchair

There’s something magical about wheelchairs at Disneyworld.

It’s as if I was witnessing multiple “Make a Wishes” all at the same time. DisneyWorld is a handicapped child’s dream. Unable to fully participate in life as their peers, the playing field seems more level at the Magic Kingdom. For a few short days, their lives seem otherwise normal. I have never seen so many smiles coming from a prison of leather, chrome and wheels in my life. It was truly touching.

But then I saw her. Her wheelchair was special. As I walked up to her from behind I could see that she was a severely handicapped child. As I approached her specialized reclining chair, the first thing that I could see was her 10 year old arms covered with thick black hair. Her head moved wildly from side to side…a string of spittle came from her chapped lips sagging down onto her shoulder. Its elasticity was evident as she quickly moved her head from left to right. Her grunts were loud and animated. So loud in fact that I became embarrassed for her and especially for her father. It was an uncomfortable sight to see…that is until I looked closer.

Glimmering in the afternoon sun, she wore a shimmery Princess dress….a stunning purple dress with beads and sparkling diamonds. Adorning her neck was a necklace that was fit for Cinderella. As she moved back and forth the sun would catch her gems and send rays of sparkling light into the air. Fixed firmly in her dark hair was a diamond tiara. Left, right and then left again…exhilarated, she moved her crown to and fro.

The image was remarkable, and one that will be frozen in my brain for a long time. But then I saw her smile. No longer did I notice the string of spittle waving in the wind. All I could see was her smile. That smile. It was truly delightful. This was her day. Whatever pain she had felt before this day vanished when her dreams of becoming a Princess were fulfilled. This day she was a real-life Princess...her wheelchair transformed into a horse-drawn carriage.

As big as her smile was, her father’s was twice as big…stretching from ear to ear. He proudly positioned her chair next to a statue of Cinderella, trying to snap the perfect picture. He was completely unaware and indifferent to the onlookers…most of which failed to see the beauty of the moment. His thoughts resolute only on his daughter…his Princess. Perhaps this was a lifetime dream fulfilled. It certainly looked like it when you looked at their faces.

I thought of my Father…my God. I thought of the pride he has in me. With a sparkle in his eye, he looks at me as He sees me, not as I see myself. That was me in that wheelchair…handicapped by hurts, habits, addictions and yes, spittle. What must I look like to those passers by? I look so unattractive so much of the time. As Paul says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Trust me. I desire to stop drooling. I desire to control my unintentional movements that should embarrass my Father...but miraculously they don’t.

This magical moment reminded me of my Father who sees through my spittle. My Father sees beyond my circumstances. My Father sees something that the world cannot see…a Prince. I am a child of God…unblemished.

Christ has offered everyone their “glass slipper.” He comes knocking at your door with only one intention. He desires for you to accept the slipper. He wants nothing more than for you to place it on your foot and rise as royalty.