This is the tale of a princess long, long ago who learned the lesson of parental protection and maidenly virtue through a lovely rose-bud.
Once there was a princess who lived in a beautiful castle. Her father was the King and loved her dearly. The princess was very pretty, yet was kind and good. Yet, she wondered why she was different from the other youth in her country.
One day she asked her father why she was not permitted to go with the other damsels to the ball. “Dear Father, she said, “Why may the village girls go to the ball and I must not go?”
Her Father was known though out his Kingdom for his honesty, fairness, and great wisdom. The king looked at his maidenly daughter and smiled kindly, yet with a knowing smile. He knew this day would come and he had known he would need a ready and lasting explanation.
Beckoning to his daughter he said, “Ah, my daughter, the time has come to teach you a lesson that I have been preparing for this day.” He led the princess out to the royal gardens where flowers of every shape and size, color and fragrance grew. He led the way to a particularly beautiful rose bush that grew in the choicest area of the garden.
Pointing to a closed, red, luscious bud he said, “Open it, my dear daughter.” “Oh no” cried the princess. It is not time for it yet to open and if I pry the petals open they will fall to the ground and the rose will be destroyed, never to open.”
“So it is with you my daughter, “said the king with a nod of his head.” You are like a rose, but still a bud, not yet ready to fully open. The other maidens of the village are also roses; each unique and beautiful, yet still buds. Yet some of them are being opened before it is time.” “You are being protected until you blossom forth into womanhood, all radiant, not wilted and broken”.
The princess had tears in her eyes as she took her father’s hand and said, “Thank-you, my father, for this lesson. I will forever cherish it.”
Then they turned and walked back to the castle, hand-in-hand.
A woman who fears the lord and has beauty on the inside, her beauty will never fade away.
Dear young ladies,
Thank you for taking the time to read this.I pray you will be blessed by it, and I hope the Lord will speak to you through it.
A few thoughts have come to my mind about being a godly young lady in this day and age. Life is difficult and temptations are strong. However, I don’t want you to look at your problems. The Lord wants you to live a victorious life.
Your future may look weary, and you don’t know what road to take. I think many a time a young person, looks too far ahead of themselves, forgetting to be faithful today. It is our loving heavenly Father who holds tomorrow. Why worry about it, when it is in His Hands? Instead, obey what He is asking you to do today. You may say, “You don’t know my life. It is too difficult to do what I know He wants me to do today.”
Sure enough. Your life may be a difficult one. However, the Father promises difficulties. He says, “In the world, you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) Nevertheless, it goes on to say that HE has overcome the world.
Think about Peter. He was walking on the water. As soon as he took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink. Don’t look at your problems, look to Jesus. Maybe you find yourself in that spot, the sinking spot which Peter was in. Don’t be afraid, as soon as Peter cried out for help, he was saved. Jesus wants you to acknowledge your need.
Whoever you are today, and no matter how difficult the road ahead is, know this: Jesus is there. He wants to know you, and He wants you to know HIM. Call out to Him for help. Draw near to Him. He will come to you. Obey in the areas He wants you to today, He will show you what He wants you to do next.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of being pure in heart. Have you ever thought about that in depth? Being pure in your heart. Having no evil thoughts, nothing un-pure crossing your mind. Paul also writes to Timothy, telling him to make sure the women know their beauty is on the outside.
Today, looking around at the world, do we see these two areas being practiced? No, we see the total opposite of them. The woman of the world do not care about being pure at all, and they only care about being beautiful on the outside.
We must be different. As followers of Christ, we must be willing to be pure in heart, having a heart as white as snow. This way, no man can accuse us of being un-pure. If they do, we must be like Christ, and not speak back to them or justify ourselves.
Also, we must be willing to have a gentle and quiet spirit, which is beautiful in God’s eyes. Wouldn’t that be wonderful, to have the Father in Heaven delighted with us?
When a young man looks at me, I do not want him to see me. No. I want him to see Jesus. Being pure in heart and obtaining a gentle and quiet spirit won’t bring attraction to you like the world wants.
However, if you seek these things, and if you seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit more than anything else you have ever wanted, God will cause rivers of living water to flow from your life.
Now, tell me what you think is most important. A man noticing you, or god noticing you. A man looking at you, and seeing Jesus shining from you, or simply seeing a young woman, who is beautiful.
The outward beauty will fade away. I guarantee you it will. Yet, a woman who fears the Lord and has beauty on the inside, her beauty will never fade away.
May the Lord bless you richly as you continue to seek Him.
________________________________________
Special Thank-you to Captured Moments for this inspiring
and uplifting article! Captured Moments is a
published writer, talented musician, and a Maiden of Grace!
To see more of her work check out:
http://www.writingformyking.blogspot.ca
One day I read an inspiring quote. The quote described a large circle, from the edge of which were many lines all running to the centre. The closer these lines became to the centre the nearer they were to each other.
This analogy was that of the Christian life – for the closer we are to Christ the closer we will be to one another. This analogy really put into perspective the family and friendship connections we have in our every day lives.
Many times we drift away from each other because we are drifting from a Christ-centered life. We are often too busy to make time for what really matters and consequently we end up losing touch with not just God, our maker, but with those around us as well. We lead a self-centred, selfish life filled with “Me, Myself, and I”. The world seems to revolve around “us” and our wishes. It is hard for us to see this at the time, but discord is a result of that very same self-centred life.We wonder why we are drifting from our family, friends, and loved ones? Why we just can’t “agree” with anyone in life? Why our world seems to be falling to pieces and we are bitter and sad? It just may be that we are the root of the problem itself. We are told to examine our hearts in the Holy Bible and this is something that we can surely take literally!
We should start from the very beginning. “Have I put Christ first?” should be our first question each day. “Did I take time for Him today?” should be our next question. All else will fall into place if we make these two questions important in our day-to-day life.
Don’t we find that when we take quiet time for thought, reading, and prayer we are relatively calmer, more forgiving, and better at understanding? This then translates into our friendships and connections. They will be stronger because we have put first what should go foremost in our lives.
Not our jobs – no they should not go first. Not our worries – these should be given to Christ and He will take care of them. Not ourselves – for pride comes before a “fall”.
CHRIST – our Saviour and first love should be the first and foremost in 0ur hearts. And when we put Christ first then all those around us will be a close second on our priority list.
We will be overjoyed to find that our friendships will blossom and be more edifying. Christ will then be glorified by this as He is glorified in Unity and Harmony! Who wants to see a Christian who sows discord wherever they go? No one, for this can be found anywhere and everywhere in the world. In a world where discord and strife is the “norm” we need people who will make Christ the center of their lives – who will prove to the world that unity and harmony do exist!
We as Christians can make this rare gem – “harmony” – a reality by drawing closer to God. And the closer we come to God then the closer we will be to one another and the closer to one another we are the closer we will be to harmony, which the world is desperately lacking today!
Maybe, just maybe this will be an enlightenment for you. Perhaps it will be a stepping stone in the journey called, “Life”.
