Last night, I took my oldest daughter(who is 11), to a meeting held by our church. It is a meeting called New Beginnings. It is a beautiful meeting for all the young women in our ward(or church boundary), ages 12-18. The 11 year old girls are invited because they will be joining this young women program when they turn 12 during the year.
I couldn’t believe that I was actually attending this with my daughter. I remember the very first new beginnings meeting that I attended at just 11 years old.
At the meeting, we were able to present our daughter with a flower that we felt best described her, and then share a little about her.
This meeting was an awakening for me. It was a reminder to me that I am raising a daughter of God, and it’s my job to teach her that.
There is a talk given by a sister in our church. Her name is Rosemary M. Wixom. The talk is titled, “Discovering the Divinity Within.”
In the talk, she quotes Elaine Cannon as saying, “There are two important days in a woman’s life: The day she is born and the day she finds out why.”
This quote has stuck with me for quite sometime.
Every time I read it, I think she is going to say,”the day she is born, and the day she gets married.”
…but she doesn’t, she says, “the day she finds out why.”
When this quote was read again last night, I almost hyperventilated. It is my job to help to nurture Stella so that she knows why she is here; and that God loves her.
However, much to my relief. I had just finished the best book in terms of help with all of this.
I think it is a book that all women and teenage girls should read.
I had the priveledge of doing a little pre-read of the book before it was released.
Jaci Wightman, the author, contacted me a few months back asking if I would do a book review on my blog. After I read the email, I knew immedieately that her name sounded familiar. Once we got talking more, we both realized that Jaci lived with her family in my home ward for a time. It was so good to reconnect with her. I was so happy to read her book, and I am thrilled to share it here.
This book really came into my life at the best time. It’s time for me to really teach my daughter about her worth.
Jaci’s book, “A Princess Story- The Real-Life Fairy Tale found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ”, was just what I needed at this time in my life.
A time when I am raising little people who need to know more than anything that they are a child of God.
It was also amazing to read Jaci’s story and her interpetation of our very own princess story.
We really are princesses. We are daughters of a King. That makes us His princesses.
This story goes on to talk about the villian, and the monster, and the battle that is raging.
The part I love about this story though is how it is all encompassed by the happy ending, which he know involves our use of the atonement, and the love of our one true prince; our Savior.
If you want your daughter to have a better grasp of the atonement and her Savior, and what this means in her life; this book is for you.
I encourage all mothers to read this and learn how to have your very own Happily Ever After.
Then, pass it along to your daughters.
I know that when Stella reads this book, it will bring her one step closer to knowing who she is and why she is here.
My favorite part from the book says:
”It’s funny—we’re all familiar with the concept of falling head over heels in love with someone, but we often forget that we can apply that idea to our relationship with our Prince. I’m completely serious. Think for a minute about what it feels like when you fall in love. Thoughts of that person begin to overtake your mind, and you’re filled with irresistible feelings of admiration and affection. You long to be with that person, to know more about them, and to do all you can to please and delight them. In short, their every wish is your command. I believe that perfectly captures what can happen in our relationship with our Prince. At least, President Ezra Taft Benson described it that way when he spoke of those who were spiritually born of God:
“Men captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ. . . . their will is swallowed up in his will. They do always those things that please the Lord. Not only would they die for the Lord, but, more important, they want to live for Him. . . . They have Christ on their minds, as they look unto Him in every thought. They have Christ in their hearts as their affections are placed on Him for-ever. . . . In short, they lose themselves in the Lord and find eter-nal life.”
Tell me, sweet princess, is Christ on your mind continually while you go about your day? Are the affections of your heart placed on Him forever? Do you look to Him in every thought and lose yourself in His incomparable love? Simply put, are you “captained by Christ” and “consumed in Christ” just like President Benson said?
Great things to teach our daughter huh?
You can find the book, “A Princess Story- The Real-Life Fairy Tale found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ”, by Jaci Wightman; here and here.
I promise you will love it.
