Dear Daughter, You are not a princess...

 Dear Sweet Girl,

You will hear a lot of lies in this life. You will hear lies from the society and culture around you and because it is made up of humans, you will hear lies from the church. I pray that you are wise and familiar enough with the the Word to be able to recognize false teaching when you encounter it...until then, however, it is my job to do that.

It has become a common thread in Christian culture today to think of women, young ladies, and girls as princesses. And while I love to see you twirl and feel beautiful having a high regard for your value and worth - relishing in the person that God created you to be, and while it is difficult for me to tell you this...

You are not a princess.

Princesses are beautiful. They emphasize their dress and countenance. They find tradition, good breeding, and etiquette to be paramount. A Princess cultivates talents and strengths as a way to display her worth. A Princess lives in a castle away from the lesser peoples. A Princess waits on her Prince...and most of the time in her story, once all of this has happened, a princess lives "happily ever after."  
 
You are a daughter of the King and while in earthly title it may make you a "princess," in spiritual reality it makes you a warrior.

 A Warrior has her own beauty. She has calloused skin on her fingers from holding a bow. Her nails are short and practical. Her hair is pulled away from her face so she can see impending attack. She covers herself in dirt for camouflage. A Warrior puts on armor everyday. She clothes herself in dignity and protects the dignity of those around her.

A Warrior finds justice and truth to be paramount and seeks after those things with every waking breath. She cultivates the fruit of the spirit and uses her skills to display the majesty of the King and His Kingdom. A Warrior knows her strengths, she knows her weakness, she is aware of her worth and it is no more or no less than any other person in service of the King.

A Warrior lives in the camp. She sees the hardships of the village. She stands beside the orphan and the widow and she fights for them. A Warrior stands and speaks for those who have no standing, for those who have no voice.

A Warrior needs no prince to fulfill her mission. A Warrior has her King. She waits on His move. On His voice. On His will.

A Warrior knows that her life here will not be easy - even if she obeys and is loyal to the King, she knows her life is a fight. She knows that her "happily" is in the ever after.

My Girl. You are so much more than a princess. You are God's warrior. You are His hands and Feet. Take heart...and fight.

I love you.