The Princess....

There are few times that a book, especially a child's book, affects my life in such a way that it's impact can be felt forever, every day, hopefully for generations to come.  The book I'm about to tell you about has done exactly that.  While the force of it's simple truth will forever be emblazoned upon my heart, it is yet to be determined whether it will filter down to my children's children and their children, etc.  This is my earnest prayer.

The book, "The Princess and the Kiss", by Jennie Bishop is a simple story.  A fairytale of sorts.  A fairytale that has more applicable truth than most non-fiction literature.  This tale is about a princess.  Surprise.  A princess that receives a gift.  The most precious gift she has ever been given.  It's hers to give away when she desires to.  This gift is her first kiss.  Her father cautions her to not give it to a stranger but to save it for the man who becomes her husband.

Many suitors attempt to win her heart.  Prince Peacock,  Prince Romance, Prince Treasurechest and many more show her a plethora of desirable things and multitudes of reasons to choose them.  However, she heeds her father's warning and searches the heart of every man and finds not one worthy of her gift.

Finally, despondent, she questions her mother if she will ever find someone special enough, her mother's answer is so profound. " 'Oh, yes, my dear.  I think God will bring a husband to you.  But, if He does not, the kiss will be yours to treasure forever.'  The princess took comfort in that thought, for she knew that God could be trusted, and she cherished the kiss with all that she was."

The next day a young man comes to the castle and requests an audience with the princess.  He had taken notice of her gentle beauty and her purity, that "sparkled like diamonds."  He claims no gold, no means to travel the earth, he's not as strong as many, but he does have one thing he can offer.  He kneels and presents a gift.  HIS kiss, to her, and asks for her hand in marriage.

This story isn't just for our daughters.  Our sons need to know that purity is one of the truest character traits to cherish and search for in a woman.  He needs to value it in his own life as well.  Without self-control and purity of heart in our sons, our daughters will struggle and likely succumb to the devastating loss of their own first kiss and possibly more.

Many of you may be thinking that I'm going a little overboard here.  Think about it.  It's about the heart.  Do we value such a gift as just that?  A gift?  Or is it something to be given freely to anyone that decides to spend a little money on us at the movies?  Is that REALLY what we want to teach our children?  That they aren't special, worth waiting for, worth trusting God for?  Not me.  I made that mistake with myself.  Many times.  Too many times.  That kiss became a "given" after a date.  Expected.  Why?  Was I not special?  Not worth waiting for?  Not worth what my Heavenly Father said I was worth?  Or had I believed a lie?

Can you imagine the passion that would be ignited in a marriage built off of such self-control and patience?  WOW!  I wish mine had been.  A kiss would never be just a "kiss".  It would be a passionate moment, shared forever, everyday.  God can restore, I fully believe that.  BUT!  It doesn't have to be this way.

If you have children, grandchildren, dogs, cats, whatever, READ this book.  It will cause your heart to desire more for the generations to come and hopefully cause you to intercede for them all.