In life we cannot anticipate what our future holds but we know who holds the future. In the Princess Parable Series, in our seasonal book, “A Royal Christmas to Remember”, we find our 5 princesses and 5 young knights busily preparing for the upcoming Christmas festivities.
Opening the castle doors over the holidays is a tradition that opens the hearts of the entire village to the message of Christmas. In an instant all their plans are dashed when a message of imminent danger arrives at their front door! The King hastily leaves with his knights to protect their kingdom. The real meaning of Christmas quickly comes into focus. The girls choose to seize the moment of turmoil, changing their destiny and bringing joy to their father and the whole kingdom.
December has arrived here in California and the events and activities of the season are in full swing. Having our “castle doors” open to family, neighbors and friends is a tradition we welcome each year.
♫ It’s truly beginning to look a lot like Christmas. ♬
A few years ago, in the midst of our preparations and a very busy afternoon, I received an urgent call from Kim, my youngest daughter, who was teaching at an Elementary School a mile or so from our house. The school had abruptly been put on “lock-down”! There were policemen on campus and helicopters were swirling in circles overhead. She was yet to be informed of the circumstances…but waited silently. Was it a bomb threat, someone on campus with a gun, …what??
Her daughter Megan Joy was in the classroom next door huddled down behind locked doors and desks! The teachers and students had been in this imposed silence and been inaccessible for almost two hours! Frantic, my mind immediately went to pictures of Columbine in Colorado…
Now that… was a wake-up call! In an instant my holiday plans took second place to the more important, as my priorities slipped back into a more realistic focus. Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. used to say, “Don’t sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate!” No chance of that happening here.
As I watched and listened to the helicopters circling, hovering overhead, my curiosity overwhelmed me. A song that comforted me in the jungles of Panama immediately came to mind.
♫ He is my hiding place,
He always fills my heart with songs of deliverance
whenever I am afraid, I will trust in Him … ♫ Psalm 32:7 “
God is our strength and power and makes our way perfect.” 2 Sam. 22:33 Our sovereign God was in control and He brought His “peace that passes understanding” in the turmoil. Two days from today families will gather to rehearse and celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world. Christians will pause to praise their blessed promise and hope fulfilled in a manger bed. Many will kneel and pray together giving thanks for His coming, His life and His sacrificial death in our place and His glorious resurrection.
Will you be one of these?
Somehow… this particular Christmas
was a singularly outstanding one for our family…
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
