A true tale above the rest:
I will tell you a tale, the most beautiful true tale of all, the story that is the highest of all the stories that has ever come after. However, this tale is true, about the Son of God sacrificing Himself to save all humanity from a deadly fate, about Him dying for individual souls who are lost and wandering. Jesus the prince rescues and keeps and protects. We do not deserve this kindness from the prince, nor did another girl, a poor orphan girl who was living in the kingdom of darkness far away from this earth. She lived in a fairytale land where princes and kingdoms and kings and queens were common people, just like how we have mayors and governors and prime ministers and presidents in this messed up world.
But before I get to her, I will go back to a fairytale kingdom who had the kindest King in all the land. He was a great King to be sure, however he was gentle and loved children very much. He was fun and sweet. He was tall and very lovely to look at. However, he could be strict but loving throughout those times when he had to issue discipline upon His people. But he was very gracious and tender and gentle. He took care of His people. His heart often broke for the people who were apart of His kingdom.
The kingdom was called the Fair Isles and it was very beautiful and lovely. There was a gleaming see and the castle of the good King was on top of a hill. There was poverty still however. The King would often go down to the city of Fair Isles and look at the poor children and people and cry. He loved His people so much! H would take them into the castle and provide rooms and good things for them. He would tell them, "Do not be afraid for your King will take care of you!"
He would often gather the children around Him and tell them stories, of boys and girls defeating giants and food being multiplied. Then the children would ask, with wonder in their faces and with delighted eyes, "can we do all these things too?"
And the kind good King would respond, "yes you can, with My help and strength. I can make you brave boys and girls."
Across the sea lay a kingdom with a dark castle. It stood tall and rigid against the darkening sky on that side of the sea. The kingdom was by the dark ruler. He was very mean and did not like little children one bit! He would leave his castle and walk to the side, where lay poor beggars, and he would say, "get out of my way! I am a rich ruler and I shall conquer the King's castle, and I don't want little children to spoil the fun!"
And he would laugh such an evil maniacal laugh. His version of "fun" entailed being evil and taking pleasure in it. He had dark servants.
The Good King had a son. He was a lovely Prince who enjoyed being with little children. The servants and kind people in the castle loved &him so much! He was very kind and good and healed the outcasts and people who were sick. He made the outcasts feel like a family.
But the people did not recognize who He really was.
The dark ruler did not like the Good King or His plan to save people from the land. So, the dark ruler thought of a way that the good Prince could die. So wicked people plotted against the prince on when they could end His life.
"He is stirring up trouble!" One man said. The dark ruler had people who were living in the King's city hurt the prince and kill Him! There was even a trader among one of His friends. But the Prince came back to life! He rescued all the people who wanted to be rescued from the dark ruler's clutches and the King adopted them as His own children so they became brothers and sisters of the prince and they became princes and princesses to. They were welcomed into the King's castle and were welcomed with much fanfare and shouts of "what a good King we've got!"
There was a girl named Mariana. She lived in the kingdom of darkness and was very poor. She was an orphan and the dark ruler did not like her. He often pretended that he did however and gave her jewels that were actually fake! He then showed his true colors and locked Mariana in a room at the top of a high tower. She was starving and barely got any food! It was very terrible for the poor girl. She was getting weaker very fast!
Mariana did not know what to do. She was beyond her strength. Her eyes were sunken into a face that was once rosy with mischief.
Suddenly, Mariana had an idea. Had she not heard about the orphaned boys and girls who were welcomed at the good King's castle? Was that too good to be true? She thought it might be worth a shot.
Mariana did the only thing she thought of—she slowly made her way to the window and used her hard prison chair to climb up to get to the window. She opened it and looked down. There was a noticeable drop to the dusty ground below. How was the girl to get down and to freedom?
Suddenly to her great surprise she saw a latter of sturdy wood that was on the outside of the window. That had not been there earlier! She could make out a boy standing holding a rope far below, for this tower was very tall and the only room where Mariana was kept was at a great height above the ground.
"Try to climb down! If you cannot climb another step just jump and I will catch you."
"Ha!" Mariana scoffed. "You are only a boy! How can you catch me from such a height?" She called down.
"Trust Me. I will catch you."
The boy spoke in a normal voice however she could hear his voice from far above. How she heard this she did not know.
"Alright fine, throw me a rope."
She spoke to him in such a rude way supposing him to be a servant. She probably did not mean to be unkind altogether even if he was a servant.
The boy in fact was the dear Prince! He had loved Mariana and He wanted the girl to be free forever! If Mariana had known she would have probably used a different tone of voice and spoke a little more gently. But she was a child and the darling did not get taught, for in the land of the dark ruler the children did not go to school like how ours do on earth here.
"Let me throw you a rope maiden. Loup it around your waste. I have got it around Me. You are tethered to Me."
"Promise you'll catch me?" She said in a small voice. For Mariana was still a child and the thought of dying terrified her. "Promise you won't let me die?"
"I won't." The boy said softly but the girl heard him. There was a look of pure tenderness in his eyes. Mariana thought she saw a smile but she wasn't sure.
"Fine!" Mariana tried to hide her fear and spoke in a mean tone. "Get on with it!"
She began climbing down. The latter was very sturdy.
Meanwhile, the guards heard Mariana shouting. Thinking she was talking to herself, one of them rattled the door.
"Hey!" He exclaimed. "Who are you talking to there?"
"Oh no!" Mariana shrieked. She forgot she was climbing down the latter and lost her footing. She would have tumbled to the ground if it wasn't for the fact that the boy caught her. He was very strong and helped her as she got to the ground. Mariana removed her side of the rope from her waste and handed it to the boy.
"Would you like to come back to the castle?" His eyes were kind.
"How?" She asked. "It is across the sea."
"I have got a boat waiting here."
He pointed to a boat near the side of the tower. "It has waited for you all along."
"I can find the castle on my own!" Mariana lost her patience. "Why have you not come when I was first here?" She yelled. "Do as I say servant and leave me alone!"
The boy stood there calmly. His eyes were filled with tears and his face became downcast. Mariana realized what she had done and apologized. Since she had used up her strength in climbing down, she nearly fainted away.
"Let Me carry you."
The boy lifted the almost fainting girl and carried her to the boat. The driver drove the fairy across the sea to the dock near the gleaming castle. The spires of the castle stood tall on top and they shown brightly in the sunlight.
The King called one of His daughters to prepare a room for Mariana. She was hungry and tired.
When Mariana awoke, she saw the beautiful sea outside her window.
"Are you hungry?" A cheery voice asked. "My name is Becca and I brought a tray for you."
"What happened?" The bewildered Mariana asked.
"The prince carried you to the boat and you were brought here," responded Becca.
Mariana poor darling did not know what kindness and love were that much yet, so she exclaimed, "take me to the King at once! I just need to take the food and return back to my tower!"
"But—but, oh, don't you want freedom?" Stammered Becca. She had never experienced such unkindness abruptly in a long time and she was so startled and hurt that she began to cry. Mariana was not a mean child at heart and awkwardly but not insincerely wrapped her arms around the trembling girl.
"Oh no—what have I done?" She cried in alarm. "Oh, I am sorry! I really am! It's just—I'm not so used to this sort of thing you know. Forgive me?" And her eyes looked imploringly into Becca's tearstained face.
"Of course!" She responded with a smile. The two became fast friends.
"I truly must go and see the King though," she said with a sigh. "The dark evil terrible ruler must be searching for me right now."
And indeed, he was. He had seen the opened window.
"Ha! How could the little thing have gotten down?" He asked himself. "I am sure that the King is at the bottom of this! He knows every one of those children by name and loves them very much! Ha! Though I am not sure how he could stand them!" He said this last sentence with a sneer. "Mmhmm, I've got a wicked plan up my sleeve, The Prince died already and new children and adults are becoming princes and princesses and being adopted every single day! How the castle can hold so many I am not sure. But what I do know? I will get the little waif back at all costs! Will One be willing to be bound for another?" He mused to himself. "Oh, and let there be guards at the bottom of the window and more outside the door!"
Mariana blissfully unaware of these musings of her master was content. Her belly was full and she was on her way to the King's throne room.
"Hello my daughter! Did you do what I asked of you darling?" The King exclaimed turning to Becca as they walked in. Mariana's jaw dropped. Daughter? This humble girl who cried and was so kind to her…she was a princess?
The King noticing Mariana's face at the realization beckoned her forward. "And how are you My dear?" He asked with a smile. Mariana did not know what to do. Should she go down on her knees? Should she wave? Or should she run away? She just looked shy and she was ashamed also for the way she treated Becca. The King looked into Mariana's eyes and saw the shame there. "It is forgiven My girl, let us not speak of it again. How would you like to be one of My daughters too? I am sure Becca would like to have another sister. I would love another daughter."
The news was too much for her to handle and she sat down on a chair and held her head in her hands, silent tears trickling down her sunken cheeks. The King got up and walked over to her and placed an arm around her and drew her close.
"It is going to be alright; do you understand? You are welcome to the castle anytime. Okay?"
Mariana smiled. "I'm sorry—I was mean to Becca."
"Forgiven. What do you want to do?"
"I…oh, do I have to go? Or can I stay here?"
"Your choice. However, I would gladly love it if you could stay here. I will take good care of you. You will have many playmates."
"You're not cruel, are You?" Mariana asked hesitantly.
"No not at all!" The King said gently. "However, if you choose to be a princess you will have to do work for Me and My Son. Not to earn your privileges by any means but you will enjoy it. In fact? It may not seem like work to you. You will tell others about Me and that I love them. Can you do that and help the other children?"
Mariana bolted. It was a lot for her to think about and take in. She ran out of the clasp of the loving King's embrace and through a side door. She traded some of the King's food to get a boat passage back to the dark ruler's kingdom and ran through the sleeping guards to her latter.
Everyday the Prince would come to the base of her tower and Mariana would climb down the latter. She would learn more and more about the King and she got to meet some of the other princesses in the beautiful castle. People were always friendly there and sweet. Mariana would steal food and trade it for a ride to the dark ruler's castle. The evil ruler knew something was up. The guards at the bottom of the tower were always sleeping when the girl escaped.
The dark ruler had a plan. He would bind her in chains. She would hang outside the window all caught up!
The wicked ruler got his plan in motion when he asked Mariana in a jovial voice, "so you have been sneaking out eh?" He asked with a fake smile. Mariana was shocked.
"How do you know?" She asked in shock.
The evil ruler laughed, such a maniacal laugh that made Mariana scream in fright. "I will get you!" Cried the ruler. "You are mine and I will keep you forever!"
One night after Mariana got into her tower a wave of remorse swept over her.
"Oh, what shall I do?" Wailed the girl. "I have to go back and apologize to the King for stealing His food! How can I be so cruel? I can just go and live there in the sweet castle and I do not have to go back and forth! I can be a princess—a true princess and live with Becca who is one of my truest friends in the whole Fair Isles!"
The girl got up and crept to her window. The guards were asleep. But the Prince wasn't there! What if she slipped? What if she fell down the latter? Mariana did what she always did however. The girl pulled her hard chair to the window and stood upon it. She then opened the window—and climbed onto the ledge.
"So, you are using a latter now, are you?" An evil voice asked beside her. "Well, you're not!"
"Oh no!" Mariana shrieked. She lost her footing and would have tumbled down the side of the tower!
"Get back inside you little girl!" Shouted the dark ruler waking up the guards below. "You don't have any latter now do you? Oh, I saw that thing a couple minutes ago and stole it!" He added with an evil sneer. "I did not know how you could have climbed down this tower but now I see the latter! You fool! You think you can stop me, the darkest ruler in the world? You can't and neither can your Precious Prince! Get back inside now!"
But Mariana couldn't.
"I must go to the King," she said with a note of defiance.
"I am your king!" Shouted the ruler.
Seeing no other choice at the moment, Mariana opened the window. But before she could get back inside, a part of her tattered dress caught on the window frame. Suddenly terrible chains appeared and bound her. She was outside and caught! She did not know what to do!
"Ha!" Laughed the dark ruler. "See if your Prince can save you now!"
His evil laughter rung through the air as he went away.
"Oh, my Prince—my Darling! Help me! Come rescue me! I'm trapped! I'm trapped!" Mariana called. "I don't know what to do! How do I get free? These chains are terrible and tight! Help me! If You love me—save me and make me one of Your sisters! Dear King, I am sorry! I stole your food! I will work to get it all back to You if I must!"
Her voice was raw from crying. "I'll scrub the floors. I'll cook. I'll even stay here if I must. Just don't leave me now!"
"Mariana is that you dear?" Asked a sweet voice. Footsteps were coming closer. The guards raised their swords but they suddenly fell back and fell asleep.
"Oh! Prince! Prince, is that You? Did You hear me and come to help me?" Mariana was stunned. "You came! Did the King come to?"
"Yes, He did my darling. He loves you so much! All the family did."
"Oh!" Mariana was overcome. "But won't the wicked ruler do something while the castle is alone?"
"It is being guarded by the winged beings."
"That is amazing! So, you are here to help me?"
"Hold on sweety!" Said another voice. "We are coming!"
"King!" Mariana was truly crying more than ever now. "Oh, darling King I am sorry! I did not mean to steel! Punish me anyway You like!"
"Forgiven!" The King called. "Shall you live in My castle forevermore?" He asked, His eyes twinkling.
"Yes!" Mariana squealed for joy. "If You will have me?"
"Everyone is welcome!" The King smiled. "Everyone! New life starts now for you, my girl!"
Despite her chains Mariana was truly happy. She would be getting a family! Perhaps she already was considered a part of the greatest family in history!
"I have to fly up and remove the chains." The prince said to Mariana. She nodded.
"It will hurt. You are hanging outside."
"Oh Prince, shall You rescue such a wicked girl like me?" Mariana shuttered.
"I will! I love you and you have been special to Me. You are a part of the family now. Family helps each other and is kind and loving."
"Alright. Thank You so much!"
The prince flew up and removed her chains as the whole family cheered. Mariana flew down with the prince holding the girl in His tender arms and stroking her hair as Mariana cried softly. "I have got you now fair maiden; you are safe forever with Me."
"Thank You my brother! The best Brother ever!" Mariana sniffled.
But suddenly the dark ruler came around the corner of the tower.
"No!" He screamed. "Mariana is mine! I have a claim on her!"
"You do not," The King said quietly but strongly. "She is loved and cherished and she has been loved forever. She is now My daughter and you have no claim on her!"
"Mine!" Screamed the dark ruler. With a flash the dark ruler pulled out his sword. He faced the prince.
"Tie Him up!" He spoke to some evil guards who produced thick terrible strong rope. The prince allowed Himself to be bound hand and foot at the base of the tower.
"Oh no!" Mariana screamed. She ran to the princes' side and wept upon His shoulder.
"If He is unbound, the girl is mine!" The dark ruler bellowed. "If she gets tied up, He goes free. Now, what will you choose?"
The prince spoke quietly. "I choose to be bound. Mariana shall go free. However, her debt has been paid already and she is free. She accepted the free gift of freedom with us in the castle."
"She is still mine!" Shrieked the dark ruler.
"I told you no," said the prince. "The King has adopted her already. She is now a true royal princess in every sense of the word."
"No!" Shouted the evil ruler.
The Prince snapped off the chains with powerful strength and was free. "You all are free because of Me. And I am glad to see you all free!" The prince exclaimed to the crowd of His brothers and sisters. "The dark ruler has already been defeated. Shall I go find more prisoners to rescue?" He asked. The King nodded.
"Let us show our love to everyone! Mariana darling?" He asked her giving her a huge hug and clasping her in His arms. "Are you truly happy?"
"I love You!" She began to cry again. "I want others to be free from the dark ruler's clutches as well and to love You and Your amazing things. Like Your songs and books and such. The castle is full of good things! I love the community here! And to think that I am going to be part of it?" Mariana could hardly believe her eyes. "Yes, I am very happy.
Throughout the years more and more people were added into the family of the Good King. The dark ruler's castle was destroyed. The dark ruler was throne faraway where no one else could be hurt and trapped by his lies. Some of his guards got to become wonderful new people in the castle of the Good King. Many more prisoners got rescued but sadly not everyone chose the King's family. After the dark ruler's castle got destroyed and the dark ruler was sent far away, the Prince and the King moved the huge family to a bigger and better Fair Isles. It was farther than the former castle and kingdom. This whole new kingdom and castle were more beautiful than the last. The family lived happily ever after!
There are Biblical truths and themes in this story, Jesus rescues us and God the Father adopts us. Jesus has paid the debt for our sins and now we can be kinder and have new lives and love new things. Jesus loves you all and He can help you!
