Guest Post: The True Princess

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a generous king who had one lovely daughter. Whatever she needed was provided. Whatever she wanted was given to her. There were maids to dress her, singers to sing for her, and jokers to make her laugh. But best of all, there was Nana, who took care of her, and her father the king, who loved her. However the king had to go away on business. The king and Nana knew the princess must be kept safe. Some people would want to protect her, but others would want to put her out of the kingdom. The king instructed Nana to put away the royal robes and crown of the princess and hide her away from the palace. "Remember," he said, "no one would expect a child of the king to be living as a servant."

The people of the kingdom searched everywhere, but no one could find a beautiful princess with long golden hair and lovely royal robes. While the people searched, Nana and the princess settled in the center of town over a little bakery shop where they worked together. "If we want to eat, we must bake," Nana said simply. The princess and Nana baked together for many months. The princess learned to sing, to dress herself, and to make herself laugh.

After many, many months the king returned. The next morning, when the palace guards announced, "The princess is here", the king was surprised to see twenty-five young ladies waiting for him. You see, because the princess had not been found, many girls in the kingdom thought they could take her place. The king smiled at the crowd of beauties. "So many princesses?" he asked. He paused in front of the first girl. "Would you mind helping my servant put on his cloak?" The girl frowned. "A true princess," she sniffed, "does not dress anyone; she has maids to do that." The king stopped in front of the second girl. "Would you mind singing a song or two for the kitchen helpers? They would enjoy it so much." The second girl smiled a little smile. "Princesses do not sing for cooks," she murmured. "They hire singers to sing for them." The king paused in front of a third girl. "My men are tired from our long trip. Would you tell them a funny story to lighten their spirits?" he asked. "Call the royal jokers," she suggested, "That is what a real princess would do."

The king looked at the young ladies before him, "Is there anyone here who would sing for me? Tell a joke? Serve me in any way?" A quiet girl in a patched dress spoke up. "I'd be happy to, Sire," she whispered, "Because I love you." "My darling child," said the king, hugging his daughter closely. "It is love that makes a true daughter of the king." So the king and his princess were reunited, and it has been said that no princess ever was kinder, more loving, or a wise ruler than she was.

...Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,
even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." -Matthew 20:26-28


Adapted from Angela Hunt's book The True Princess

Author:
A big thanks to SaraLyne Hendrich, who wrote this month's Guest Post! She is a wonderful young lady and beautiful writer, who enjoys serving other's and God in anyway she can. I was impressed by SaraLyne when I met her, and am still as I read her writing.