"Mommy, where's your crown?"
The very genuine question came as I prepared breakfast from the sweet, little voice of our three-year-old daughter. Like many her age, her little girl toddler-ness holds a very strong affinity for all things "princess" - we're talking castles, kisses from true loves and unicorns that come in rainbow. But it doesn't stop at loving princess things, she lives a princess lifestyle. She talks the talk and walks the walk.
You see, most days Josie is wearing one of her toy crowns. She prefers they be worn with a dress. Her feet showcasing a plastic pair of pretend high heels, "slippers" as she calls them. If they are not on her feet, they may be found rested elegantly on a small, but sparkly pillow. Often, we are asked to assist the princess with her white, elbow-high "glubs" (gloves.) To complete her royal ensemble is a wand, which is of the utmost importance.
She is also happy to advise others around her on how they too can be more princess- like. Once, while looking at a photo of her dad and I on our wedding day, she politely let me know that my dress was nice, but I'd forgotten my crown and slippers.
Josie's royal behavior offers quite the entertainment from day-to-day. She can often be found eating a meal at our kitchen table, grocery shopping or even just watching TV in her fancy crown and dress. When those seemingly ordinary activities are met with the splendor of her pomp and circumstance, it adds a playful joy to the commonplace of daily routines.
One summer evening, Princess Josie wished to help me garden. Her highness had forgone her usual play dresses for her older sister, Ava's, more sophisticated, special occasion dress - a literal 7 sizes too big. Naturally, the crown was on her head. But, for this particular activity, her "glubs" were garden gloves, pink of course, and featuring cartoon puppies. The fancy slippers were replaced with tennis shoes, appropriately fitting the activity she was about to partake in. She was quite the sight in her mixture of attire, completely oblivious to the silliness of her oversized garment, let alone how amusing it was to see her play in the dirt or carry around a garden hose in such sophisticated garb. I'd wanted us to pull some weeds but alas, the princess only wanted to pick our flowers for her own whimsical pleasure.
You see, she is a princess in her heart and therefore she is always a princess. In the precious innocence of her childhood, Josie never doubts her own royalty and therefore never questions anything that comes along with it.
Now, Josie's crown is the essential piece of her princess garments, but sometimes…well sometimes, she doesn't always act like the royalty she is. Sometimes, the crown just falls right off her head in the middle of an activity. Other times, the crown gets uncomfortable, and she no longer wants to wear it. Occasionally, a sibling takes it. Other times, she is simply feeling a bit whimsical and tosses it to the ground in a joyful, frolick-ey dance. She's also been known to throw her crown down to the ground in a not so playful manner when she is upset. All this to say, sometimes amid her emotions or circumstances, the princess does not fully respect or honor her royal status or her crown.
Merriam Webster defines royalty like this:
A: of kingly ancestry (the royal family)
B: of, relating to, or subject to the crown (the royal estates)
C: being in the crown's service
Certainly, there are Earthly monarchies and real-life princesses. But for us as Christians, there is a far more valuable, divine and eternal sense of the word. If Jesus is your Savior, you are adopted into God's family. You are a part of a royal family of saints who worship and obey a King whose throne cannot be overthrown. (Hallelujah!) The inheritance you will receive is far beyond any Earthly treasure and possession, but rather is one of abundant life for all eternity. You have permission to approach God's throne and to approach it boldly! Therefore, you are also in voluntary service to the Most High, to the King of all Kings.
As members of God's family, we are also ambassadors to Christ. It is our job to represent Him here on Earth, that others may have an accurate reflection of His great love and light.
As I made my little princess breakfast that day, through her literal question about the location of my own crown she reminded me of a spiritual notion. The heart behind this writing is the same. To gently remind you, friend, to ask yourself the same question - "Where is your crown?" Are you wearing it? Did you leave it on the pillow or throw it off in a fit of anger or sadness?
In our daily walk here on Earth, difficulties, hurts, addictions, sickness, loss and so many other painful experiences can cause us to lose sight of our royal status. When that happens, royal behavior and ways of thinking go with it. And by royal behavior, I mean Christ-like behavior.
However, being God's daughters is what allows us to meet the hard, ugly or even mundane parts of life with love and joy. Though we may get mad and want to throw it down, though it may seem uncomfortable at times, it's okay. No matter the condition of your crown - if it's covered in dirt, damaged, or if you think you've lost it or have never even put it on - God wants to and is able to redeem and restore it. We need only to let Jesus place it on you.
May this encourage and help you live each day like the royalty you are, never forgetting that as a Christian, you are a Crownkeeper.