PRINCESS POWER

“Kings’ daughters are among Thy noble ladies” (Psalm 45:9).



Okay, I admit it. I refer to each of my daughters as “princess.” Yes, it’s a stereotypically “dad” thing to do and I am exceedingly pleased to use the label. I likely always shall.

Sadly, in today’s world, “princess” is also oft considered chauvinistic. In my opinion, that’s a deleterious move to once again rob young women of dignity and respect. The thinking goes that if she is a “princess,” then she needs a prince to save her.

One might think that the princess appellation would be driven from our culture, relegated to history books and twisted into examples of female oppression. In fact, there is a move afoot to erase it from our cultural expression.

Thankfully, that’s unlikely to happen if the Disney Corporation has anything to do with it. Last fall I attended a workshop by marketing guru, Ira Mayer. His inside information is that every three years, Disney rotates their marketing campaigns between fairies and princesses. Why would they do this? Because they know that within the heart of every little girl, lives a princess waiting to get out.

In Noble Plans I write: “I believe that there is within each and every person, both inside and out the community of the redeemed, a deep and residing passion for personal nobility; a nobleness mirrored in the One in whose image we were created. Every person on earth, as the Scriptures tell us, is created in the “image” of God – the Lord of the universe – and as such, we have implanted within our core the image of nobility, a resemblance of the Sovereign Creator. If the Almighty God, Supreme Ruler of the universe and King of all the earth is the image reflected in us, then by default, we have within our souls the potential for a most royal bearing.”

Of course, “prince” and “knight” resonates in the hearts of boys in much the same way. Robert Lewis writes, “Who among us as boys didn’t thrill to the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table? The knight survives in our collective consciousness like an ancient Superman, committed to a code of conduct . . .” (Raising a Modern-Day Knight, (c) 1997, Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, IL, p. 12)

As noted in the verse above, the psalmist speaks of the King’s daughters. The king in this context is of course, God Almighty, making the daughters what? Princesses. These daughters are among God’s “noble ladies.”

But here’s the crux of the matter. As a society, we have relegated knights and princesses to the world of children. Let’s be honest. We all want to be lifted up. Somewhere inside you is a prince or princess waiting to be released.

“He raises the poor from the dust, And lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, With the princes of His people” (Psalm 113:7-8).

Don’t wait any longer. Be that person. You are royal. You are of a supreme lineage!

“The noble man makes noble plans and by noble plans he stands”