19 Jun, 2009
"Mommy! Daddy Called Me Princess!"
This week our daughter, Hannah, turned 10. One of the big birthdays - double-digits now. As I look back on the last ten years, there is one special night that God used to remind me of the power of our words toward others. Allow me to share my personal journal entry from that night, when our little girl was barely two-years-old, with you today ...
"Mommy! Daddy called me Princess!"
I will never forget those words for as long as I live. Tonight, as we were reading to our kids, we changed our normal routine. Hannah didn't like the change at all. She wouldn't let me even touch her at first, as we snuggled up for story-time. Finally, she let me rub her cheek a little. After a few books we headed to brush her teeth. I had to carry her, kicking and screaming into the bathroom. The tears were really flowing by now. When we finally finished the battle of brushing teeth, she grabbed my hands to jump down from the stool, as she always does. Only this time, as she hopped down, I simply said, "Let's go, Princess!" By the time she took three steps to the door, she sprang into a gallop and said, with a sparkle in her eye, "Mommy! Daddy called me Princess!"
It was a simple affirmation, but it changed the world of a two-year-old little girl. As we climbed into bed for one last Bible story, the sparkle was still in Hannah's eyes as she smiled and said it one more time, "Daddy called me Princess!"
But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
What does today's God's Story Scripture teach us about encouraging others?
Isn't it amazing to know that the Creator of the universe has adopted us as his own and calls us his heirs, his children. He is the King of the Kingdom, we are his, therefore, we are as princes and princesses in his eyes! In our deepest, darkest moments, we can hold on to that truth and be encouraged.
We can also reach out to other followers of Christ in their times of discouragement and remind them of their place in the Kingdom.
Finally, we can share this amazing encouragement with those who aren't following Jesus, letting them know what a privilege it is to be an heir of God!
- Take some time alone today and soak in the truth that you have been adopted into God's family as one of his own.
- Thank God that you are a child of the King of kings.
- Call up a friend who follows Jesus, get together with them and talk about what it means to be a prince or princess in the Kingdom.
- Find someone today who follows Jesus, but seems a little discouraged. Share some encouraging words with them and remind them that they are a prince or princess in God's eyes.
- Find someone today who isn't following Jesus. Ask their permission to share your story and what it means to you that you are a prince or princess.
- Do something special for that same person to encourage them with your actions, and not just your words.
- March 2010 [6]
- February 2010 [19]
- January 2010 [22]
- December 2009 [22]
- November 2009 [21]
- October 2009 [22]
- September 2009 [21]
- August 2009 [20]
- July 2009 [21]
- June 2009 [22]
- May 2009 [18]
- April 2009 [15]
- March 2009 [7]
- February 2009 [17]
- January 2009 [20]
- December 2008 [23]
- November 2008 [19]
- October 2008 [22]
- September 2008 [22]
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [11]
- May 2008 [20]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [18]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [18]
- November 2007 [15]
- October 2007 [19]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [9]
- May 2007 [11]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
