"As You Wish"

Year 4-Day 28: "Today, I am grateful for a lesson in His Sovereignty...from the from "The Princess Bride."

So, two conversations with two different friends...Susan and Darla...brought me to one of those "ah-ha" moments. A recent gratitude for the many...sometimes unusual ways... to say "I love you.", prompted Susan to comment "As you wish...".  

If unfamiliar with the movie "The Princess Bride", it is a classic. For me it wasn't instant love at first viewing, but now, I can't help but pause to watch it when it is on. Plenty of corny humor for the guys and word wit for me. Not to mention "true love". Westley loves the princess, who is at times bossy, demanding and not always grateful. Still, he keeps on loving and simply responds to her requests with "as you wish". What an example of "meek is not weak" but a determined kind of love. 

Now, the Princess Buttercup...she is pretty full of herself at times and likes things her way. Don't we all.  At least, I do.  Still, at some point, Westley, persistent and unfailing love breaks through. Love...real love...always wins.  

Here is a bit of the script.  Grandpa (Peter Falk "Columbo") is the narrator in the movie who is reading the story to his ill Grandson (played by Fred Savage from "The Wonder Years.". 

Grandpa: [voiceover] Nothing gave Buttercup as much pleasure as ordering Westley around.

Buttercup: Farm boy, polish my horse's saddle. I want to see my face shining in it by morning.

Westley: As you wish.

Grandpa: [voiceover] "As you wish" was all he ever said to her.

Buttercup: Farm boy, fill these with water - please.

Westley: As you wish.

Grandpa: [voiceover] That day, she was amazed to discover that when he was saying "As you wish", what he meant was, "I love you." And even more amazing was the day she realized she truly loved him back.

Buttercup is an example of how we sometimes miss love that comes our way, because we are looking for it to arrive in a different package. Westley unfailing love goes to many lengths to let her know she is his and that he loves her with every breath. There is plenty of humor, too. But, in the midst of the funny stuff is a lesson or two. She can't grasp what is in front of her. 

Darla is my other friend who brought me back to the "as you wish".  One of our frequent conversations is on the sovereignty of God.  That part of His character is hard for us to grasp. Royalty is outside the realm of what we have known as Americans. When we consider, our Lord has a universe.  That is so much more to care for than one small country. He counts the star and knows them by name.  His heart aches when we make decisions that put a chasm between us and him. 

Back to "As you wish...". So, I was thinking about God being sovereign and our relationship with him.  Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9&10 (using the KJV as most of us do for this prayer):

 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

"Thy will be done..." In other words, "As you wish". When we pray that prayer and in that way, as Jesus taught us to do, "thy will" not "my will" be done.  "As you wish." That is recognizing His sovereignty. Unlike Buttercup, he has it all together and He promises to never forsake us. He does no pretend there won't be difficult times, but gives us ways to press on through them.  His teachings are true. 

Next time you see the movie or say the Lord's Prayer, when you get to the "thy will be done"...think "As you wish...".  It is another way to say "I love you."  

Today, I am grateful for a lesson in His Sovereignty...from the from "The Princess Bride."