A Grimm Retelling: Lisa Ilene - Part 1

Lean Lisa is a rather disturbing, yet quite short story written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Here's their version:

Lean Lisa was not at all like Lazy Heinz and Fat Trina, who would not allow anything to disturb their rest. She burned herself out from morning until evening and loaded so much work on her husband, Lanky Lenz, that it was harder for him than for a donkey loaded with three sacks. But it was all for naught. They had nothing, and they got nothing.

 

One evening she was lying in bed, too tired to move a muscle but still unable to fall asleep, when she poked her husband in the side with her elbow and said, "Lenz, listen to what I just thought of. If I were to find a florin, and you were to give me another one, then I'd borrow yet another one, and you'd give me still another one, and then I would take the four florins and buy a young cow." The man agreed. "I don't know," he said, "where I'm to get that florin I'm supposed to give you, but after you have the money to buy a cow, it will be a good thing." Then he added, "I'm looking forward to the time after the cow calves, so I can have some good refreshing milk to drink." "The milk is not for you," said the woman. "We will let the calf suck, so it will grow large and fat, and we can sell it for a good price." "Of course," said the man, "but it won't hurt anything if we take a little milk." "Who taught you about cows?" said the woman. "I won't allow it, whether it will hurt anything or not. You can stand on your head, but you won't get a single drop of milk.

 

Lanky Lenz, just because you are always hungry, you think that you can devour everything that my hard work brings in." "Woman," said the man, "be quiet, or I'll plant one on the side of your face." "What!" she cried. "Are you threatening me! You glutton! You good-for-nothing! You lazybones!" She was reaching for his hair, but Lanky Lenz raised himself up, took hold of both her skinny arms with one hand, then pushed her head into the pillow with the other one. He held her there and let her scold until she fell asleep from exhaustion.

 

The next morning when she woke up, I do not know whether she continued to quarrel, or whether she went out to look for the florin that she wanted to find.

 

Stand Up

I had an opportunity today to stand up for someone that I love, but I chose to play the tame-hearted, mild-tempered sweetheart. I could have defended him to someone who hurt him but I didn't and it's probably better that I didn't. But I still kind of wish that I had. And this is why: Today, I shook the hand of someone and restrained myself from saying my standard, "nice to meet you." I try to be honest in all I do. This person had been in a position of authority and was expected to protect the confidence that was entrusted to him. 

But he betrayed it. 

Instead of turning to God to help himself understand another person and the trials they were fighting against and seeking his guidance to overcome, instead of seeking love for others and trusting in God and that He has a plan, instead of standing up and being a true confidant or even a friend, he chose to be small, fearful, ignorant, and downright hurtful.

So, because I missed my opportunity to tell him to his face, I will share what I had to say here. And yes, I do realize he will likely never read this, nevertheless, it needs to be shared.

What I would have said is this: "I know exactly who you are (knowing look). I also know exactly who he is (gesture to the man whose hand I was holding) and I am grateful and proud to be standing next to him."

And then I would have added, "You know I really think the strongest people are the ones who have to go through the hardest things because it shows that God trusts them with such heavy burdens."

I didn't say this. But I did try to escape the room before he could approach, and when I realized we weren't fast enough I promptly returned to my loved ones side to show support and my true feelings of and for him.