I Am a Princess

How many times a day does a little girl, somewhere, state, "I want to be a princess when I grow up"? And then we, as parents, coo that they're already a princess, and we sew them a princess dress, and play princess songs for them to dance to, etc. etc. And grow up we little girls do, and sometimes wonder, "What happened?" Well, as I busied myself around the house today, I realized that I truly am living my Princess Dream (although I don't think I ever said that I wanted to be a princess when I grew up, I always said that I wanted to be a Mom). And guess what! They're one in the same. Take a look at what the "princesses" teach us. . . Cinderella - Work. Work. Work. One's day is filled with laundry, ironing, mopping the floor, feeding and dressing everyone, etc. And after doing all of that, there's little (if any) thanks. And then, when you wake up in the morning, all that work is waiting for you again (no matter how much you did yesterday). And all that work does wonders for your hands, feet, and clothes (I can't imagine that she was really that thrilled when the prince put the glass slipper on her foot - unless there was a foot massage attached!) The Little Mermaid - To get what you really want, you must give a piece of yourself away (often more than one piece), but in the end you really lose nothing, but rather gain it all. Snow White - In our day to day Princess Lives we often must love and serve people who are Grumpy (self explanatory), Dopey(in a silly mood and won't listen), Sneezy (sick kids), Happy (not too often, but it does happen), Bashful (coaxing kids to do the things they don't want to do), Sleepy(ever try waking a teenager?), and those who seemingly know it all (Doc). Pocahontas - As a woman, we often feel torn between two (or more) things/people that we really love. Life is a balancing act. Mulan - Becoming who you were always meant to be is HARD, and requires a lot of sacrifice, tough decisions, and ridicule. The reward comes much later, after the trial/test is over. Belle (Beauty and the Beast)- Finding the people we love's true identity takes patience, love, and time - not to mention taking a chance, and hoping that you'll discover the prince that's locked away inside (this includes kids, spouses, parents, siblings, etc. etc.) Maid Marian - Happiness can be found even amid political upheavals, economic hard times, and wayward family members. Giselle (Enchanted)- None of us really belong here in this Telestial world, surrounded by all kinds of filth and uncertainties, but live here we do, and we can rise above it, and better the lives of others in the process. Sleeping Beauty - You don't have to wear a fancy dress to be happy. She'd been a princess all her life, she just didn't know it because from the looks of things, she had a pretty frugal, simple existence. And then, of course, the day will come when we are united with our families, and will be crowned with royalty, and it will be a marvelous day when we realize that all our dreams really did come true. (And a good nap helps to put everything into perspective). So, to all the would-be princesses out there . . . I'll tell you what your mother probably already told you, "You're already a princess!" Be Loyal to the Royal in You, for You are a Daughter of a King! "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High." Psalms 82:6 So, in true princess style, I got up today and started all over again. And like Cinderella, I even mopped my floor (I even had a critter- a honeybee- come in through the open door and sing me a little working song). Today is a better day. It still has all the challenges of yesterday, but with a clean floor everything looks brighter. I'm glad to be a princess, and when it is time for the royal ball, I'll be ready then to dress in the robes of righteousness and move on to my happily ever after. But as for today, I have princess work to do!