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Guest columnReal Helpfor Real LivingHow do youcapture the heart ofthe peasant girl?Rev. TonyMarcianoby Rev. Tony Marcianonews@thecharlotteweekly.comBy now, you’ve heard Catherine Elizabeth“Kate” Middleton is the fiancée ofPrince William of Wales. In 1987, herparents, Michael and Carole Middletonfounded Party Pieces, a mail-order companythat sells partysupplies and decorations.They have sincebecome millionaires.Let me changearound the story. Whatif Kate did not haveparents who are millionaires?What if shewas a pauper, a peasantgirl? What if PrinceWilliam just happened to come upon herand fell madly in love with her, in spiteof her poverty? How would he have capturedthe heart of a peasant girl?In their book “The Sacred Romance”(it’s not a love story between a man and awoman but between God and us) BrentHodges and John Eldridge tell a figurativestory of a king, centuries ago, whowould deal with the same challenge.Permit me to modify their story.In the story, the king, riding alone inthe forest, comes across a poor, peasantgirl living in a thatched roof hut. She isbeautiful, yet simple. She is charmingand yet humble. The king only stoppedby her simple home for a drink of water.Yet in those brief moments, she stole hisheart.As he rides off from this encounter, hehas found true love. No other woman inhis kingdom had stolen his heart in theway she has. What would he do? Howwould he win her over?He assembled his wisest counselorsand sought their wisdom.The first advisor suggested he send hisroyal ambassador stating the king wouldlike her hand in marriage. But what ifshe said, “No,” the king asked. What ifshe declines his marriage proposal?What if she said she was totally unworthy,a woman of no means, marrying theking of this great kingdom?The king continued to struggle whenthe second advisor came up with a plan.He suggested the king send a militaryforce – 100 soldiers. In addition, hewww.thecharlotteweekly.comwould send men with banners and otherswith trumpets. They would arrive ather simple hut with much fanfare. Theking would dismount his stallion, knockon her door and ask for her hand inmarriage. But what if she were frightenedfrom all the attention? What if shestayed inside her home and chose not tocome out?The king found himself deeply troubled.What could he do to win the handof this woman who had stolen his heart?Finally, his third advisor had a solution.He explained to the king that he wouldsay hello to your world.However you want to connect, we’ll help you say hi.hiDef.(only on cable!)Time Warner Cable Triple PlayhiSpeed.hiMom. $33/mo.Plus, get an amazing offer!Time Warner Cable Triple Play 3 MONTHS FREEDVR 1.877.387.9249have to become just like the woman – apauper. He would have to lay aside hiskingship and dress just like her – a peasant.He would arrive at her home as asimple man, not the king. Then and onlythen would he know she had respondedto the purity of his love for her and nothis lofty status.That story is symbolic of the Christmasstory: How would God win ourhearts? He would have to become justlike us – to be born as we are born, tolive and work as we would live and work,to become one of us, laying aside his$33/mo. YourTWC.com3 MONTHS FREE$33/mo.Around Towndivinity to know we had responded tothe purity of his love.This Christmas, I invite you to enterinto a relationship with the one whomwe call the King of Kings and Lord ofLords, the one who laid aside His divinityto become one of us. qRev. Tony Marciano is the executivedirector of the Charlotte Rescue Missionand a regular South Charlotte Weeklycolumnist. He is available to speak toyour group. Call 704-334-4635 ext. 213to schedule him.Offer expires 12/31/10. Available to new residential customers in Time Warner Cable’s serviceable areas in the Carolinas, Virginia, West Virginia and Alabama who have not received any Time Warner Cable service within 30 days, or current Time WarnerCable customers who only subscribe to one service. Customer must subscribe to and maintain all three services to receive promotional rate of $33 each per month for 12 months. 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Additional charges apply for Directory Assistance, OperatorServices, and calls to international locations. Service may not be available in all areas. Pricing does not include franchise fees or taxes. Standard installation and custom wiring charges may apply. Additional charge for equipment. Time Warner Cable andits ailiates and suppliers reserve the right to discontinue any product, feature or offer at any time. Other restrictions may apply. Limited time offer. ©2010 Time Warner Cable, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Time Warner Cable and the eye/ear logo are registeredtrademarks of Time Warner, Inc. Used under license. HBO® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Oice, Inc. TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.(s10)South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 17-23, 2010 • Page 19