A little girl's prayer

Inspired by "Hadassah", Tommy Tenney.


I remember when I was young, I used to imagine I was a princess. I paraded around carrying a pink basket with my royal dog, a pound puppy plushie named ‘Ruby’, and with various other trinkets I deemed special enough for a princess’ belongings. I would put a cape on, a red quilted baby blanket, luxurious enough to rest a baby-smooth face on, and sit regally in a stiff-backed chair, awaiting my royal subjects. I still have that blanket, old and worn but altogether still a precious remnant from my younger days, tucked somewhere in one of my drawers. Other days, I would imagine I was away on my journeys to strange and exciting places, zooming about in a yellow scooter. (Yes, I had a yellow scooter, then.) I was the independent minded little girl who knew where she was going and having lots of laughter and excitement along the way.

Being raised in a Christian family, I would pray for my future husband. I wanted to! That he would be tall and dashing, impeccably well-mannered, someone that I would hopelessly fall in love with, someone who would be the eventual man I married and spent the rest of my life with, a guy, worthy of my affections, worthy of my love. I prayed with the wistful longings of romance that teenaged girls might have; only that earlier on in life, I already knew. I knew that love was something to be treasured, and my heart and body, to be given away to the one who would be my King.

Growing up, I realized that my ideal of a perfect family was almost impossible in today’s world. I met many friends who came from broken homes, whose parents were not living with each other, who do not believe in marriage because most of their friends have divorced; I’ve met people who are single because they do not trust their family’s past to repeat itself in their lives. I’ve seen the hurt that comes from not having one parent around – lost to death or divorce. I’ve seen parents that were not able to give their best to their children, lamenting the fact that they hardly know them anymore. I’ve personally been through love and loss as well, although that cannot be compared to the impact of losing one parent because of a strange law in the land that states divorce is acceptable, that once we get tired of each other, we can find new mates.

And I’m fearful because of the fact that I might be the one who decides to cut the ties, to stop the music, to end the charade.

But who knows, perhaps I was born for such a time as this. In wanting so many criteria fulfilled, in looking out for my best interests, perhaps it’s time I put aside these nagging doubts and believe in a fairytale Biblical romance. Even in these turbulent times, perhaps true love still exists. And I want to be the one chosen for His palace. I want to desire Him more than any other, to give of myself completely, to remember all that has passed, and to excitedly anticipate all that is going to happen. Even now I sense that many things will come to pass.

A little girl once prayed many years ago.

A young woman, today, standing at the forefront of short years that will determine her destiny, prays the same prayer.