For my thirteenth birthday, a friend of mine ordered some "preaching" tapes for me. Among the others was a set called "The Making of a Princess" by Dora Esh. They are so good! Not all of the doctrine mentioned is correct, but most of the basic ideas of modesty, attitudes, relationships, etc., is right on!! Mrs. Esh has some wonderful things on those tapes, and I thought I might share just a few of some of the things that have blessed, inspired, encouraged, or challenged me:

• In talking about true happiness, Mrs. Esh points out why things go in and out of style so quickly -- it's because there are so many people out there looking for true happiness, so they try one thing. That makes them happy only temporarily, and then they have to have something else.
• Along those same lines, she asked a question: If you could not have a new dress for a whole year, a new music cassette/CD for a whole year, no outings for a whole year, and no eating between meals for a whole year, would you be depressed? Mrs. Esh points out that perhaps if there is something in our lives that we are pouring so much time and effort into, or that we "have" to have, maybe that has become a god? The Lord intends for to fulfill our longing for happiness Himself, so that we don't need all the things of the world to satisfy us. Not that it is wrong to find pleasure in worldly "things," but we should not be dependable on them to satisfy or bring us happiness.
  
• Mrs. Esh also talked about our relationships with, or how to relate to, strangers. She pointed out that the young men have more opportunities to talk to people about the Lord, but our tool as young ladies is our demeanor (? Not sure of the right word here... sorry). We may not think about it, but really, when we go to the store, we should go out as if we were on a mission to bring happiness and gladness to those we come in contact with. If a man holds the door for you, don't just mumble "Thanks" as you walk past, but give him a true "Thank you!" with a real smile. Let your countenance be such that you are approachable to someone who wants to know "what" you have. She said also, on a different tape, that when you are brushing your hair in the morning, and you look in the mirror, think, "I am God's princess, and my mission today is to bring gladness to every soul I come in contact with!" You may never know how many seeds you can sow in people's hearts just because you had a radiant heart and face, reflecting God's goodness and love to others.
• Ask God for a servant's heart. We've heard that we should be servants, but really, God wants us to serve out of love, not out of duty. Pray daily for a servant's heart. God will be pleased to answer that prayer! Mrs. Esh said that one servant's heart can change the atmosphere in the entire home!
• Talk to God all day long. It does not matter if it is "important" or not -- nothing is unimportant to God. After all, the very hairs on your head are all numbered! What could be less important than that?! You see a flower. Thank God for the flower, for the beauty you see! You feel the sunshine on your skin. Thank God for it! If you see someone who looks lonely or sad, pray for them, that somehow God would show them his love, or that somehow  you could show them His love. The list goes on. The possibilities are probably endless -- we all have different lives.