Once Upon A Time There Were Two Princesses...

"All shall be well

And all shall be well

And all manner of things shall be well."

-Julian of Norwich (14th century writer)

This is a story that happened not too long ago to two princesses...



Not long ago in land far, far away and a lot warmer than here, there were two princesses waiting to be revealed. They had travelled for a long time to arrive at the beautiful castle. As they walked along the cobblestone entrance and under the stunning arches they were wide-eyed. As they entered the foyer with the elegant tapestries and gold trim they were awestruck.





"Look at the crowns." whispered one of the girls. "Are they real?" "Will we get to wear one?" The question hung in the air with expectation.



"Welcome, ladies. You must be Princess Caroline and Princess Justine. The girls looked surprised to be called not only princess but by their names. "We have been waiting for you. Princess Justine would you like to come this way?"

She was hesitant, wanting to run to the seat that had been prepared just for her but a little afraid that this was too good to be true. She cautiously walked through the red velvet curtains and into the opulent room. As she took her seat, she looked around nervously. "I am so excited that you are here. Have you thought about what kind of princess you would like to be?" said her fairy godmother-in-training. Princess Justine shook her head quickly and looked down at her dusty running shoes. "That is alright, I have something just for you."


On the other side of the room the scene was a little different. Her eyes were bright and as wide as saucers. Princess Caroline's body language told everyone that she was soaking in every moment of this experience. When she was asked "Have you thought about what kind of princess you would like to be?" She did not hesitate. She smiled, "Yes, I know." She embraced the declaration of her royalty with confidence.


Two girls, each one every bit a "real" princess but very different in their reactions to this experience.

This story plays out in real life as different women each have similliar reactions to being called a princess. The truth is long ago God set a plan in motion that would bring us back to Him. We are so infinately valuable to Him that He sent His Son on a rescue mission. Jesus paid the ultimate price for us. He chose us and called us by name to receive his free gift of salvation. Author and dramatist Nicole Johnson says it well, "You are placed by grace in the middle of the royal family of God with everyone else who doesn't deserve to be there."

The reality of this life though makes some of us a bit afraid to really believe that God would want us in His royal family. Fairy tales are just for story books and happily ever after is for someone else. Often our broken hearts and shattered dreams are hidden from those around us but we ourselves are never forget them. Part of us wants to believe that we are chosen and that we are of infinate value but life has taught us no matter what our age that you never know what will happen tomorrow. Maybe it is safer not dream at all...

The difference in our reactions comes when we believe the ending of His real story and embrace who God is calling us to be. When we believe in the Kingdom and in the King of Kings our hope is in our belief of the love God has for us. Although we may have and will suffer loss and some of our own dreams have and will be shattered, we have been told about and have experienced the One who is the fixer of all broken hearts and broken dreams. We know the secret is not the world's illusive fairy tale ever after but the reality that the King of Kings calls us by name and provides our royal lineage. With this knowledge we are able to let our minds soar to heights that are unimaginable, and we learn more about the Princess heart He has given us everyday. We choose to believe that no matter what happens "all will be well" because that is what our real King has said about the ending of our story.

My prayer is that these two little princesses will take Him at His word and believe who He has created them to be....