Lily is my oldest daughter. As a baby, she could have “dethroned” the Gerber baby. Seriously…I’m not just saying that because I’m her mother, it’s a true fact. Her big, beautiful blue eyes, chubby cheeks, and her sweet, comical dispostion melted everyone’s heart… that is until Miss Lily wouldn’t get her way….One day when Lily was probably about 3 years old, I arrived at my parent’s house to retrieve my adorable offspring. *Side note…my mother was my salvation in those early years. I had my kids 13 months apart and then again at 23 months apart…crazy for sure! But I’m so happy for it now that they’re older.* Anyway…Grandma’s house is like fun central to my kids. They L-O-V-E, LOVE going to Grandma’s house and they H-A-T-E, HATE leaving Grandma’s house. So this day in particular, it was Lily’s turn to throw the departing temper tantrum. I had to carry her SCREAMING and crying into the car, literally wrestle her into her car seat and buckle her in. Anyone who’s ever experienced this kind of wailing, spitting, snotty, sweaty, exhausting workout can sympathize with me. No wonder I was in such great shape then! So…the entire time I’m having the WWE smackdown with my little “angel,” my dad, PapPap is standing by, offering “words of comfort and encouragement” to Lily. When I have her buckled in and nearly settled down, PapPap says, “Lily, princesses don’t act like that and you’re a princess, aren’t you?” Quick-thinking Lily answers, “No, PapPap…I’m not a princess, I’m just a regular girl,” as she wiped her snotty nose and streaming eyes all in one swoop. We all laughed and thought that was soooo funny. I have never forgotten those words that my baby girl spoke in her sweet innocence that day. Some days, I feel that way too…

Some days I am that screaming, snotty little girl…I’m tired and crabby, not feeling like going anywhere with anyone or doing anything. I just want to crawl up in my comfy bed with my fuzzy brown blankie and shut the world out…ignore the responsibilities of being a wife, mother, and friend. Each time, my Father grabs a hold of my heart and my mind and nudges me into the next event or chapter in my life. He lovingly says to me, “Daughter, Princess, why are you acting like this? I am here with you and you don’t need to worry or be afraid. I will give you the strength and patience and motivation that you need.” I argue with Him sometimes saying, “But I’m not able to do all this. I’m not good enough, I’m not equipped. I don’t have the energy or resources within myself to accomplish all of this…I’m no Proverbs 31 woman, no superwoman…I’m just Susie, a regular girl.” But then He reminds me in His Word: (I like to insert my own name into the Scriptures to make it more personal)

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Susie,

And He who formed you, O Susie:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name;

You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,

Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God,

The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; (Isaiah 43)
And:

And, Susie, do not grow weary while doing good, for in due season you shall reap if you do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)

With that, this “regular girl” transforms into the Princess He insists that I am. I brush my teeth, comb my hair, put a little makeup on and get about to doing my Father’s business. There is work to be done!