Originally this story was going to be about the Princess Elizabeth (So beautiful that the sun itself continues to be astonished whenever it shines in her face) and the Frog (splish splash, splish splash) Christopher.
Reading over my shoulder, however, was my new daughter strongly objecting, “My husband is not a frog!”
“No?” I asked. “Then who is he?”
“My husband is…” she announced as though in the great hall of the castle with trumpet fanfare, “My Snuggy.”
“As you wish, Princess Elizabeth. This rewrite is for you:”
This is not just your basic, average, everyday, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, ho-hum fairy tale. This is a story of true love.
Once upon a time in a land with no beginning or end, there was a Prince who was very handsome with a smile that made any sad day happy. His eyes were kind and beautiful. His heart was always extended to others and he had a finesse in binding diverse empires together.
Friends from neighboring castles knew the Prince sometimes as a candle in the night that ignited the things that are unseen. They also knew him as mischievous, sometimes hiding among the tapestries at court, and chasing everyone through the formal gardens with stolen pastries, and mudding their vestments behind the lower pools making mud hens. Prince Christopher, for this is what we are to call him, wholeheartedly loved God and life.
While rich with relationships, however, Prince Christopher was very unhappy. Most of his lifetime friends had found their mates, so where was his love – his true love?
One night there flew over the castle a little swallow. Her friends had gone away, but she had stayed behind, for she was in love. It was early in the spring when she had spotted him in the village. She was so attracted to him that she swooped down to talk to him.
Prince Christopher was held in awe as she flapped to rest on his extended hand. He held her lightly. She was radiant; she was like life-giving goodness.
The Prince invited her into the light and she took her place. And oh how he loved her, saying “Don’t you know I love you? I lay my heart at the foot of your … dress?” For as only can happen in fairy tales, the swallow had transformed into a majestic and arresting Princess, now gazing on him saying, “Don’t you know that storybook loves always have a happy ending?”
They exchanged bands of gold to be laid round each other’s hearts – forever one.
Then he swooped her up, just like in the books and on his stallion they rode away.
For all their tomorrows ever after, they lived happily together, their lives living the story of love and hope.
Now this did happen once upon a time not to long ago. Perhaps when things were not so complex. But – oh, don’t you remember your Princess Bride and how you worshiped the ground she walked on? Your love was like a storybook story – but it was as real as the feeling you feel.
Yes. Life is complicated and there are many errors to overcome. Yet for the sake of your love for the Lord, the relationship between you and your mate, and the kingdom of God, you might want to take heed from the fifth-century B.C. prophet Malachi, who was greatly concerned about the loss of love among the Israelites as especially found between husbands and wives. Their love for God and thus for each other had grown cold, making it near impossible to respond to the Lord’s love, thus disintegrating their home life to the nothingness – flat and meaningless with little if any shared sense of aliveness, power and purpose.
Consider reading the entire book, but for now I will leave you with only 2 verses and a plan for a happy ending.
Malachi, Chapter 2; 13-14:
Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because He no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.
And now a happily ever after plan for you and your mate as written by Prince Christopher and Princess Elizabeth on their Wedding Day:
To “Buggy” (by Prince Christopher)
My heart became whole on the day I met you. You’re the answer to every prayer I’ve ever prayed. I can’t wait to grow with you both in God’s love and then our love. Thank you for making my dreams come true. I wuv you with all of my heart.
To “Snuggy” (by Princess Elizabeth)
I have waited and prayed for this moment my whole life and I am in awe of the man that God created for me. My heart has found its home with you and in that home I know it’s safe. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life loving you.
Prince Christopher: Hear this now: I will always come for you.
Princess Elizabeth: But how can you be sure?
Prince Christopher: This is true love – you think this happens every day?
Since the invention of the kiss, there have only been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind.
John Fischer The Catch 
Miss Marti, I bet Feather, his sister-cousin, and the pigeon with the ruby collar all love this story…
Marti,
I beautiful modern day fairy tale about True Love with your son and his wife. Oh to be true for all of us.
Concerning the reading of Malachi: I read it again after you suggested in your story, but I have an alternative thought on this prophecy. Too often, I have seen people use this first chapter for reasoning why people with disabilities should not be included into the faith community and the community at large, but no where is this interpretation relevant. It is correct in saying that the prophecy deals with appropriate stewardship of what God has given us. First, God calls us to give the first fruits to God whether money or material possessions, but too often we give our broken and used products to the church or even to thrift stores to be sold at reduce or free to people who do not have much. Yes, we are to take care of the people who need help, but we need to realize that when we give to others, we are giving to God. Would any person give their left overs to God? Second, too often the people with disabilities are used as a scape goat for this passage without including other passages from the Torah or historical books or prophetic books or the new testament that we are to give to people who have some kind of impairment the best holy food and take care of those with impairments as we would take care of God. Would any person place God away from our daily activities?
Lastly, in your email reply you asked what my connection to L’Arche is. I have been connected with L’Arche through God’s call upon my life and used to take my son to the community meal at the L’Arche in Overland Park, KS before I moved back to San Diego. Concerning God’s call, I believe that a one key to creating vital congregations is to fully include people with impairments in the life of congregations ministry with as well as to them allowing God’s gifts to come out in all people for the building of God’s kingdom. Too often, we weep over the fact that our churches in the United States are declining, which is great to weep for the right reasons, but too often we have failed to include the least of these into our local congregations. Concerning the local community and out governments processes, this works accurately in rebuilding a nation that is fully inclusive of all people not matter what culture, race, intellectual or physical abilities. Here is book from ALBAN press to check out: “Amazing Gifts: Stories of Faith, Disability, and Inclusion” by Mark I. Pinsky