Feb. 13, 2009 - Desire the Very Best Marriage

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lambis come, and His wife hath made herself ready." Revelation 19:7

"Come on, Victory," the sixteen-year-old girl said softly as she mounted her faithful horse and began the journey to the castle. Her blonde hair, highlighted by the sun, flowed behind her, and the crystals on her thin golden headband sparkled brightly. Cantering gracefully with his dark mane waving in the wind, the chestnut horse was nearly as beautiful as the girl. As they raced across green meadows colored by wildflowers, over small streams, and through the countryside, many people would stop their activities or conversations in order to watch them pass.

"A lovely girl," one elderly lady commented as she was hanging out linens to dry. "A precious gem, if ever there was one, I say."

A jolly old man sat on a bench in the mountain village with his young grandson by his knee. As the girl rode by, he turned to his grandson and declared, "You do know who she is, do ye not? She is none other but the daughter of the king."

"Then she is a princess, Grandfather?' asked the little boy with wonder and delight, his eyes gazing at her until she had diappeared in to the distance.

"Ahh, but she is more htan a princess," the wise grandmother who stood nearby interjected. "For not only is she a princess in lineage, but she is also a princess in conduct. We may admire her outward beauty, but I tell you that it is inner beauty that is worth one hundred times more - and inner beauty is a quality rare even among princesses."

And so you see, this young lady was known and respected throughout the kingdom not only because of her royal birth, but even more importantly for her kindness, gracious words, and evident maturity beyond her years. No one doubted that she was  a princess indeed.

Yet, lest you begin to belive that this princess was perfect, it must be noted that even though she was wise, she was not as wise as her father, the King. She was young. She had much insight and discernment, but she was nonethless still subject to the motions, fears, and longings that tug and pull at a girl's heart and mind. It was not easy to recall her father's words of wisdom in every situation. And sometimes the wrong advice of others was quite persuasive, sounding so close to the truth that it was easy to accept without due caution.

"I wonder," the princess though aloud as she reached the top of the small hill from which the castle came into view, "why Father speaks so often of the dangerous ways and opinions of the people in the kingdom. They seem so peaceful and good."

"And I wonder," she continued, "what my future will hold? I suppose Mother is right. It is not for me to know. I must concentrate on the work that God gives me to do each day and trust Him to direct my paths."

"We'd best hurry," she said again to Victory as she gently pressed her legs against his sides. She realized that they had slowed their pace considerabley. Peering into the distant sky, the princess noticed that it seemed strangely dark, and she wondered if it was already past the dinner hour.

Resuming her thoughts, she spoke again. "If the biggest enemies of the kingdom are not the seen but the unseen, and if the villagers are as easily led astray as Father says, I wonder what can be done in order to -"

Suddenly hearing the sound of galloping, she forgot her question and looked up to see a horseman coming quickly to meet her.

"How does it fare with thee, my lady?" he asked, coming to a halt.

"All is well, sentinel," she replied. "What be thy hurry?"

"Thy father sent me to look for thee. The wetern sky gives a warning of a brewing storm. He was concerned that thou hast been delayed at Sand Crossing."

"Thou knowest how it is visiting Aunt Prudent and Uncle Justheart, the Duke and Duchess of Widomton," she chuckled. "It is always difficult to get away. And yes, the ride home took langer than expected. The rough parts of the mountain trail are somewhat overgrown. Also, I stopped to help an elderly lady who had dropped her basketful of vegetables in the midst of the trail."

"I will report to the king and leave thee to enjoy thy quiet ride. Thy father will be glad to know that thou hast very nearly arrived at the castle."

"Thank you, sentinel," she answered. "Please tell he stanble hand  to have hay ready for Victory."

"As thou sayest," he declared as  he turned around and galloped away.

You may be wondering hwy a princess was riding laone throughout the kingdom with no  guards or escort. It was a time of peae, and the land was well protected by the many good knights and warriors ascattered thorughout. In addition, the king desired that the princess follow  not the custom of royalty, who isolate themselves from the commonpeople, but rather that she learn to serve and minister to everyone form te greatest down to the least. He knew that the kingodm was in need of such examples.

Yet, the king was by no means negligent to protect his daughter. On the contrary, because of his great love for the princess, he was committed to doing everything necessary to safegurard her in every way. Indeed, many considered him to be too careful. He often perceived as dangerous those activiteis that most people believed were quite harmless. And many times he took precautions that others mocked as extreme and unnessary. For you see, in his wisdom he understood that it was not the outward threats that were most deadly, the inward pollutants and evil influences that attack the heart and the mind.

The princess, walking by faith, happily accepted this protection and guidance. Even so, it is questionable whether she fully treasured this most valualbe gift bestowed up on her. She loved her parents, but it is unlikely that she had a full understanding of what a significant part they played in her life. She appreciated their protection and  occasionally thanked them for it, but it is certain that she did not have any idea how much this protection would benefit her life, how vital it was for her future, and how much grief it had already spared her.

Like most princesses, this young lady was full of hopes and dreams for her future. There were places she wished to vist, people she hoped to meet, and gereat things she wanted to accomplish. Most of all, she desired to use her life to nourish nad strengthen others. For you see, she understood (as few princesses do) that a true princess is actually a servant. But amidst her many noble dreams, the one most deeply rooted in ther heart and the oneshe though of most frequently, was . . . (you'll never guess) . . . yes, she dreamed of the day when she would fall in love with her Prince Charming and live with him forever. But , of course, she was only sixteen. She didn't need to be thinking about that yet!

And so it was, on this quiet evening, that as the princess alighted from her horse and led him along the stone path outside the castle walls, she began to dream of her future. She stood still for a moment to kiss Victory's nose and to gaze at the distant mountains, which reminded her of the horizons that lay ahead in her life. The princess was enjoying these peaceful moments alone when her thoughts were unexpectedly interrupted by the low and soothing voice of the alligator swimming in the moat below the bridge on which she stood.

"Good evening to thee, fair princess," he  began.

"Why, thank you, and a good evening to thee as well," she answered.

"What brings such a lovely young lady outside tonight?"

"Oh, I be just returning  from a visit with my aunt and uncle, and I had a mind to capture a quick walk around the castle to enjoy the evening breeze."

"Alone?" the alligator questioned.

"I like to be alone. It gives me time to think and to pray."

"Oh, I see," he said slowly.

After a monment of silence and alligator continued, "May I ask what the princess enjoys thinking about when she is not interrupted by an annoyance such as myself?"

"My father tells me that my time is precious and must be used wisely. I was just condsidering how many things I hope to do in my life, how I can best serve the kingdom, and how I might be able to bring hope and joy to those who have none."

"My princess, thou art very amtitious and wise, but I fear thou art forgetting one minor point. You live in a castle. You live with your parents. You are sheltered. You have neither the knowledge nor the experience necessary to do the things of which you dream."

"My father says I do."

"Thy father is indeed a noble man, but dear Princess, he cannot possibly be right about everything. He loves you and therfore fears that harm may come to you if you are not constantly by his side. It is true he wants only your best, but Princess, I fear he is misguided. In the end, you are the one who will face the consequences of his unintentional yet serious mistakes."

"What are you saying I should do?"

"Nothing as of yet," replied the alligator. "But when the time comes, be ready to make your own decisions, or you will never survive in the real world."

Feeling a few sprinkles of raindrops on her arm and hearing the first roll of thunder, the princess took Victory to his stall and hurried inside.

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