Your daughter is precious to God. As a child of the Heavenly
King, she is his princess—and so are you! Raising your daughter to be a
princess in today's world is no easy job. While it might be tempting to isolate
and shield her from a world full of the wrong values and priorities, it's more
important to help her learn to stand out and live out God's plan for her.
Want
to help your daughter live as a princess in today's world? Model what a
princess of the True King looks like. This can be a natural part of your day as
everyday routines and circumstances become teachable moments.
Be joyful
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say
it again—rejoice! Philippians 4:4 How many times have you been out
with your children running errands when you encountered a grumpy cashier at the
grocery store or a rude fast food worker? Bad moods are contagious so don't
spread them. Instead, respond with a smile and a kind word. It may make a
difference for that person, and it will show your daughter that princesses
don't have to let others steal their joy. They can spread joy instead.
Put Others First
Don’t be
selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better
than yourselves. Don’t look out
only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians
2:3-4 We live in a
"me first" world. If your daughter is exposed to any kind of media,
she'll quickly pick up on that attitude. People do many foolish and ungodly
things for attention. Let your daughter see you putting others first. That
begins in the home as she sees you taking care of your family's needs.
Encourage her to let a sibling have the first turn or the last piece of cake.
Be involved in
ministry opportunities which allow her to meet others' needs. That could mean
donating food to the food pantry, sorting out clothes to donate to the homeless
shelter or finding a neighbor who needs a helping hand.
Celebrate Your Uniqueness
Thank you for
making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is
marvelous—how well I know it. Psalm 139:14 The pressure to
act like everyone else in order to fit in is strong. But God made your princess
in a unique way. He gave her the talents and personality she needs in order to
fulfill his plan for her. Encourage your daughter to be true to herself whether
she's athletic or musical or a scholar. Let her see you exploring your talents
and being true to yourself and God, and encourage her to do the same. She's one
of a kind.
Guard Your Heart
Guard your heart above all else, for it
determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 The things your daughter sees and hears
cannot be unseen or unheard. Watch for the subtle messages that creep into your
home through books, DVDs, magazines, music and television. Know what your
daughter is reading, seeing and hearing. It makes a difference. What fills her
heart will influence her attitudes. If you want her to have the heart of a
princess, provide things for her to read and watch that will accomplish that
goal. (see my blog post http://just4christiangirls.blogspot.com/2014/09/best-christian-books-for-preteen-girls.html for a list of the best Christian books for
preteen girls)
Make God's Word Your Guide for Life
Your word is
a lamp to guide my feet and a light
for my path. Psalm 119:105
Society's view
of right and wrong is flawed. Things that were not acceptable twenty years ago
are now flaunted openly. But God's standards never change, and the Bible is the
guidebook for living life as a princess here and now. Help your daughter find a
Bible she can understand. Supply her with a devotion book that's written for
her age group and interest level and encourage her to read it. My children are
motivated by being able to stay up a few minutes past bedtime if they are
reading a daily devotion book, and that may be all the motivation your daughter
needs too.
Raising a princess doesn't require dressing her in pink or
buying her a tiara. It means connecting with her on a heart level that
allows you to instill the values and attitudes she needs to live as a
princess of the True King.
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