What Women Can Learn from Princesses

Who doesn't remember  being spoon-fed growing up on the tales of Disney princesses?  They were beautiful and pure young women, often facing tough life circumstances.  Yet, there was always love in their lives (sometimes in the form of animals or talking teacups!) and waiting for them was a gallant Prince to save them from whatever circumstances they faced.

Often, the Princess genre is geared towards girls and young women.  I think grown women--especially those who are waiting for "true love's kiss"--have a lot to learn from Princesses, although not necessarily the Disney variety.  Let me expound. . .

What makes a woman a Princess?  What are the qualities of a Princess that we can emulate?

1. She is a Princess simply because she is a daughter of the King.  Full stop.  She is born a Princess.  Yes, she has to be raised in the lifestyle of a Princess and be taught the mindset of a Princess, but even if she was abducted and raised outside of the castle walls, she would still be a Princess of the blood.  In the old European courts of France, royalty were often ranked and distinguished by whether or not they were Princesses du sang (of the blood) or de la marriage (by marriage).  If you are of the royal blood, you will always be a Princess.

2. She has full confidence in her father, the King.  She trusts that he " has plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope" (Jet 29:11).  He is aware of the desires and longings of his daughter's heart.  And she knows that she can trust him with those longings and he will bring them to fruition in his own timing.

3. Having been raised by a King, she knows how to recognize the characteristics of a King in the men in her life.  She knows how to encourage a man and not bring him down.  She knows that her words are powerful and she never uses them as weapons to emasculate a man.  She "does him good and not evil, all the days of her life" (Prov 31:12).

4. A Princess knows when to submit to the authority figures in King's court.  She understands protocol and that although she may technically outrank someone by virtue of her being "of the blood," she knows that "without consultation, plans are frustrated.  But with many counselors, they succeed."  Like Esther, on her journey to becoming Queen, she submits to the instruction of a "Hegai" in her life (Esther 2:15).

5. Although a Princess has access to the finest clothing, jewels, makeup, etc, she knows that those qualities don't give her royal stature.  She knows that her "adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God: (1 Peter 3-4).