"'What's a mother?' asked the ignorant Smee." The oblivious pirate of J.M. Barrie's most beloved story, Peter Pan, never gets a dictionary answer to his question. During the Neverland-centric adventures, mothers are instead described as the ones who straighten up children's thoughts, who tuck their children in at night, who mend clothes and create pockets for their little ones, and who will not desert their children no matter the circumstance. A mother is more of a loving protectress, rather than someone of common family lineage.

Two words—glass slipper—often lead to one thought: Cinderella. Whether you grew up with the Brothers Grimm version, the Disney version, or any of the hundreds of spin-offs in between one thing holds true: Cinderella's class is evident in her clothing. Social class, that is. In jealousy, her stepfamily replaces her pretty outfits with torn peasant rags, making their less-than-worthy treatment of her seem more fitting. When the royal family announces a ball, the stepsisters ruin Cinderella's only proper dress to try to lower her status back down; and a glimmering ball gown magically entitles Cinderella to be treated as well as a royal. Wealth often translates into influence and opportunity. Yet the divide between rich and poor is so vast that those at the bottom struggle just to get by. So, how does someone get a hand up when they don't have a fairy godmother? Meet the Slum Sisters.

Lightning Round & Beckah Shae's Way sidebar written by Mariam...

The sound of ringing bells has become synonymous with Christmas. Not only for the popular “Jingle Bells” tune and the bells magically ringing from Santa’s reindeer-driven sleigh, but for Salvation Army bell ringers tending red kettles. While you’re probably familiar with this iconic Army tradition, YS is going deeper—bringing to light the kettle’s intriguing history, star-studded entourage, surprising facts, and unparalleled impact.

Deep in the heart of England, the most famous outlaw shoots his bow and arrow in the name of justice. In a medieval castle, a valiant legend saves his kingdom from brutal invasion through his bravery, might, and captaincy. And in a galaxy far, far away, rebel spaceships battle for peace and freedom against an oppressive empire. Robin Hood. King Arthur. Star Wars. Story after story, we are drawn to heroes of resistance movements; we are inclined towards characters who not only fight for justice, but live for it. They passionately seek to do what many can only wish: to set a broken world straight again or—at the least—leave it better than before. In The Salvation Army, the bravery and courage of Major Marie Ozanne fueled her calling to step up and act. Despite having her life on the line, she defiantly broke the rules to spread the Gospel.

MTV’s My Super Sweet 16 shocked audiences with 10 seasons of outrageous, over-the-top, coming-of-age celebrations. From arrivals on gold thrones and helicopters, to gifts of custom Lamborghinis and no-budget shopping sprees, these teens were living a dream. Even though these lifestyles aren’t the norm, all people are drawn to experiences they believe will make them happy. For the late Dutch officer, Major Eva den Hartog, her teenage life took a crazy turn. Hers was definitely a not-so-sweet 16. A week after this milestone birthday, on May 10, 1940, German warplanes descended on den Hartog’s homeland. Even though Holland tried to stay out of the Second World War, they were now at arms with Germany, having become a victim of unprovoked attack.

Ever thought a small, first-grade girl would stand up to a 12-year-old bully? How about if she intentionally smacked him in the face with a textbook—breaking his nose and making him cry in the process—all just to tell him to stop being a jerk to another little kid? That's exactly what happens in 2017's Gifted, starring Chris Evans and Mckenna Grace. Mary Adler, the bold, 1st-grade math prodigy, is an extraordinary character beyond her number-loving brain.

“Could be worse. Not sure how, but it could be” are the words that gloomily ring from the voice of everyone’s favorite stuffed donkey. Eeyore, of Winnie the Pooh fame, is by far the most despondent resident of the Hundred Acre Wood. While still witty and loveable, he doesn’t provide much hope or motivation when things shift from bad to worse. Sadness can be a normal and healthy emotion, but in dark times, there’s also a need to find the light.

Paul Marcarelli became Verizon’s famous “test man” in 2002 by popping out of a manhole on a city street, a muggy swamp in a remote area, an office cubicle, and even the desert. Every two steps he’d whip out his cell phone with, “Can you hear me, now?” to test the network’s reception. Years later, the techie with thick-rimmed specs has since switched to Sprint, asking a similar question: “Can you hear that?” Marcarelli’s been fortunate to hear a direct voice on the other line each time. In spiritual life, there are times we may feel a great connection with God—and others when the reception doesn’t seem so strong. Regardless of the situation, we’re called to “never stop praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

In the sixth season of American Ninja Warrior, the five-foot-tall, barely 100-pound Kacy Catanzaro made history, being not only the first woman to qualify for the finals, but also the first woman to complete a City Finals course. #MightyKacy blew up the Internet, as she proved that small can definitely pack a punch. Whether in a physical obstacle course or not, we all face heavy challenges; and the world gives us plenty of reasons why we should give up or not believe in ourselves. Elizabeth Swift Brengle knew her share of these hurdles—she was tiny, very frail, and set back by poor health. It appeared that she was very much in need, yet she was the one who was serving others to her maximum ability.

Adam Scott from Parks and Recreation. Celebrity chef Rachael Ray. Chris Martin of Coldplay. Classic rocker Billy Joel. And pop singer Katy Perry. What do they all have in common—besides frequenting stage and screen, and making some serious bank for it? They each rock two first names. Having a double-barreled name may cause some people to do a double-take—especially when you’ve got the same name twice, as this month’s Walking Dead character, Alexander Alexander, does. But beyond the configuration of letters, people’s talents and what they make of those gifts allow them to make a real name for themselves. Major Alexander Alexander not only turned heads by his unique name, but by his radical living for others and denial of self.

“You’re stubborn,” usually isn’t taken as a compliment. More often it means you’re hardheaded, close-minded, incapable of changing, or won’t listen to reason. But depending on the situation, stubbornness can be a positive. Perhaps you’re not easily swayed and have solid opinions, you persevere through tough times, and you hold firm to your values. Arnolis Weerasooriya could certainly be called stubborn. He was only a Salvationist for four years, but his ability to move beyond blind faith, and subsequently hold firm to his beliefs, pushed him to a point of dedication that was respected by many.

Truth or Dare. You’ve probably played the game as a kid. Maybe you’ve even played it as an adult, because risk can be alluring. Do you offer up vulnerable information about yourself, or perform some chancy prank to prove your sense of adventure and bravery? Most importantly: in the end, is whatever you said or did even worth it? Whether Muslim scholar Syed Mazhar Hussain Rizvi ever played this game is unknown, but he certainly took some great risks—converting from Islam to Christianity being one of them. Such a jump often involves an alienation of culture, of family, or friends. It can turn one’s whole life upside down. In some countries, it could even get one killed. But if Christianity is true, if Christ is who He says He is, it proves to be worth the risk.

Love’s a funny thing—especially in English. This singular word can describe how much we really like pizza, a cool painting, a favorite sports team, our siblings, a significant other or best friend, that new Pentatonix cover—practically anything and anyone—even God! While other languages have multiple words for love, in English it’s hard to distinguish exactly what this word means—or how serious it is—when we use it all the time. In Greek, the word found in Scripture describing the highest form of love is agape. It’s a selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. It is an action. A verb. The love we are called to have for everyone we meet.

Martyrs are those who loved God so much that they were willing to die rather than deny Him. In Greek, the word for "martyr" means witness; martyrs radiate God's love in their lives, and in turn, act as witnesses to the Gospel. Read the stories of these martyrs from Church history, and match their story to the correct photo.

What was the best gift you've ever received? What was it so great? Chances are, it wasn't it's high-speed specs or expensive, top-of-the-line qualities that made it grand. Rather, it was probably from someone special to you, a particularly thoughtful gesture, or a gift that had unique meaning to you beyond its regular use. The most cherished gifts—both given and received—are ones that come from the heart.

Winter's delights are often found in moments of warmth—holding a hot cup of chocolate, sitting by a fire, and spending time with loved ones. They're moments that allow you to escape the cold and be comforted. If you've ever read a Charles Dickens' novel, you know Victorian England was often a cold and harsh place. Poverty was commonplace because of a rapidly growing population especially in London's East End. In the 1880s, many families were barely surviving with extremely low incomes. Whole families often lived in one room together. Some of them had no beds and slept on rags on the floor. Others often went without shoes or a coat, because buying food was the main priority, and they couldn't afford both food and clothing.