Princess Rose

     I had the inestimable privilege of providing an old client insight yesterday.

     “Rose” is a young, newly-married woman. She has always struggled with her weight, and her self-esteem fluctuates all over the chart, but mostly hovers near the bottom of it. I’ve struggled to help her, but mostly to no avail.

     Something seemed to happen yesterday. We were taking turns reading the written word, and a little light suddenly shone in her eyes. (The eyes are always a dead give-away.)

     We were reading from John and Stasi Eldredge’s book, Captivating; a book related to women’s misconceptions about their own value. There are some captivating words on those pages.

     “You’ve probably heard that there is in every human heart a place that only God can fill…

     It follows that there is also a chamber in God Himself, into which none can enter but one, the individual. You are meant to fill a place in the heart of God no one can nothing else can fill. Whoa. He longs for you.” (pg. 120)

    There is another page that I have learned to love. The words are equally insightful. John has been looking at Stasi's childhood photographs, and he praises her for a certain inner beauty there; that the test of time affirms.

     Then there is the story of another little girl; all grown up. It was only as an adult that she “came into her own.” It was only then that she was able to recognize “the princess inside.” Someone asks her, “What does your heart do with that possibility?” To which she deliberately responds; “Hooray and Damn! Hooray that it might have been true after all,

... and Damn because what have I been doing all these years?” (Pg. 108-109)

    Before our session concluded yesterday, I urged Rose to try on her new name for size. “Say it. Princess Rose.” She did…

    … and she smiled.

 

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "Musings"