Prince Charming

Prince Charming and his trusty steed...

It's amazing how much like a princess Cayna is... Of course, I've never actually met a true princess, but the image I've created in my mind via books, movies and the Royal Family, is what I see in Cayna in her twirly skirts, painted fingernails, VERY independent and outspoken nature and her zeal for all things pretty and pink... In fact, it seems like a lot of girls her age love the idea of being one. And all that surrounds us (i.e. media and advertising) encourages little girls to be a princess (they have a whole aisle devoted to it at every major store like Walmart and Target).


Being a princess isn't bad. It can be frustrating for a mom that has NEVER been like that (my mom will vouch for that). In fact, I'm working on my compassion and patience in this department - especially when Cayna is in a full-fledged princess tantrum. But I have a sensitive side to me as well - A princess isn't known just for the way she looks and acts... But also of what she dreams about. What is the one thing every princess dreams of? Her Prince Charming... of course. And in this department, I am just as 'princess' like as the next girl. And what do we look for in Prince Charming? Tall (or at least taller than ourselves), dark and handsome? Yeah... and in today's world, we add intelligent, romantic, sensitive, strong... pretty much, he needs to be perfect (just like the movies, right)?

Well, perfect just isn't. I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but I made an observation one night while reading Cinderella to Cayna for probably the billionth time. Prince Charming has NOTHING to do with saving her. The Grand Duke has to charge off on his horse to find the girl with the glass slipper and the fairy godmother and the mice are the ones that actually rescue her. What's up with that? If you like the Cinderella story, I prefer the version called 'Ever After,' with Drew Barrymore. The Prince has to work a little harder.

We are reading Wild at Heart for Sunday School right now. It basically talks about the wild side of man. He isn't meant to be pent up in an office all day and for many little boys and men, our society is taking away their wild side... almost feminizing them - a man seeks adventure and the wilderness. That doesn't mean he goes hunting, kills things, etc. No, it means that as a child, he made guns out of sticks, built forts, scared little girls with snakes and frogs, and sailed off on a grand adventure while getting lost in the woods at Grandma & Grandpa's house. And as a man, he still seeks adventure - whether it's playing sports, hanging out with his buddies, camping with his kids, following his passion. Every man's adventure is different. And on that adventure, what is one of the main goals for the man? To save his damsel in distress - to rescue her from the evil stepmother or dragon. The book says that this is a desire of the man's heart - to save the woman he loves! Girls, we might not get a castle, but if we look closely, we can see how he fights for us in the little things he does (and we sometimes want to join him in the adventure).

And even those of you that deny it... you know it's true.

KC truly is my Prince Charming. For 10 years, when people ask me how KC and I got together, I would tell them that we met in college. I pursued him, etc, etc. I did send the first email letting him know I was interested in him...

Well, I lied! And sadly, I just figured it out! The last few days, KC and I have been talking about when we met, things in our past, and so on. And as always, I said 'well, it was me that started it' and he would say 'well, I said 'I love you first'.' All in good fun, of course. Then we started talking about what really prompted the relationship. And guess what - it wasn't me. It was KC. He and I were volunteering with a High School Christian group called Young Life. We had a leadership meeting (we were in different areas, but the leadership met all together when we could). I was talking with my friends and talking about having to do my laundry after the meeting and KC out of nowhere says - 'you can do it at my house.' I had NEVER talked to this kid. I must tell you that all the girls were in love with KC. I had heard an awful lot about him (they talked too much actually - they made him out to be too good to be true). Anyway, being in college and having to pay for my laundry - I wasn't going to turn down saving money! I said sure and my friend Heather Kinney and I went over to his house to do laundry. And most of you might think I'm crazy, but I knew I would marry KC that night.

So, why the Prince Charming thing? Well, we don't normally have dragons or evil stepmothers to fight off, but we do have life. My life was not headed in the best direction before I met him. And I had a lot of bad things that had happened to me and I didn't store a lot of faith that I'd find someone like him (He was WAY too good for me)... not one that would want to take a chance with me or marry me. But he did. I still don't always understand that. He didn't know he would be with me forever when he asked me to do laundry at his house, but I truly believe with all that I am that the Holy Spirit prompted him to step out and take a chance. I can even picture him with a knight's helmet and sword fending off the things that were attacking my life.

So, he might not have swept me off my feet with a white stallion and a happy ever after, but he did offer love, hope and a chance to start over following the sunset in the West. And he continually shows me I am his princess.

We all have the opportunity to be a part of the royal family to the King of Kings; it just depends on how much we are willing to open our hearts and let go of the past and our misconceptions.

And as I work on my compassion and patience... Cayna really is teaching me that it is ok to be a princess (when used in the right context) and I admit that I enjoy her princess ways sometimes...
Who is her Prince Charming? Daddy and Jesus.