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Good morning.

There are three words that bring a cold shiver to the hearts and minds of parents of toddlers.

Let. It. Go.

Frozen, one of the highest grossing animated film of all time, and inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen story The Snow Queen, was released 5 years ago today. Five years of the same lyrics on repeat. Five years of little girls dressing in shiny turquoise dresses and slightly unnerving blonde wigs. Five years of a story that proclaims a message of sisterly love, and the importance of not allowing your heart to become icy.

Whatever your view on this type of adaptation of timeless tales, fairytales and myths play an important part in shaping our beliefs and our culture.

GK Chesterton said that:

‘Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.’

By telling stories that celebrate the triumph of good over evil, we reinforce the hope that history is heading towards a conclusion where there is justice, love and peace. As we consider the harsh reality of the world in which we find ourselves, there is comfort in meditating on the promise of Revelation 21 of a new heaven and a new earth, a place where there is no more death, mourning, crying or pain, a place where God lives with his people, a place where there really is a happy ever after.

Father,
Help us to celebrate the values that we see in our culture that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable. Show us hope in despair and joy in suffering.
Amen.