The Unbelieving Princess

“If you think you can do a thing, or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right” ~ Henry Ford

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess who lived in a lovely castle in the most glorious part of the forest. She would stare out of her window and breathe in the beauty that she saw; she would think to herself “I wish I could go gather flowers in the meadow.” But she was locked in her rooms and couldn’t. 

There were friends and family that would come and visit her, but they would always leave after a bit because they didn’t want to stay locked in her rooms too.  

The Princess Grew Older

The years came and went, the Princess grew older, the view from her window changed a bit but essentially it was the same.  People still came to see her, but they didn’t stay long, they had their life to live, and she was stuck, locked alone in her rooms.  

Every time someone would visit her, her heart would soar, until they left, then she would hear the keys turn in the door that kept her locked in.

The Visitor

The Princess loved to watch things fly.  She loved butterflies, birds, dragonflies and even bees. Anything that could fly she watched with envy, wishing she too could fly. One day as she was sitting in her chair, gazing out her window watching a bird fly from branch to branch, then to the ground and find a worm to feed her babies, she heard keys in the lock and looked up to find a Visitor. It was someone she hadn’t met face-to-face before but had talked to Him from her window and He seemed very nice.  

He opened the door and called to her, “Come out and enjoy the sunshine with me!” The Princess told Him she couldn’t because she was locked in her rooms and couldn’t leave. The Visitor said “Of course you can!  I came in and there was no one at the door. I turned the knob and came right in!”

The Princess said, “Yes, but you had to unlock it first!” He said, “There is no lock or keys in the door, it rattles a bit when you turn it, and you have to really try, but it finally opens!”

The Princess looked at Him and said “That isn’t true! I’ve tried so many times over the years, and I couldn’t get it open!  I can hear the keys rattle in the lock each time someone comes and goes as they visit me!”

The Visitor came to her, took her by the hand and said, “Come see”. He took her to the door, turning the knob back and forth, it rattled and shook, but finally opened.  He said, “Now you try”.  The princess reached out her hand grabbing the knob, turning, and pulling, pulling, and turning, it wouldn’t open. “See!” she said, “It won’t open for me!” “Don’t give up so soon!” He said “Try something different to open it. How about pulling, turning, and lifting a bit?” “Watch”. The visitor pulled the door, turned the knob, and then lifted it. Rattling, it swung open.  

Truly Believe

“Yes, but it won’t work for me” the Princess said.  Her visitor looked at her with sad eyes, “It won’t if you don’t believe it will, because if you don’t believe—you won’t keep trying.” “If you truly believe and know it’s not locked, you will try until it opens.” The Visitor showed her once again how he was able to open the door, both inside and out. Then He turned to her and said, “I’ll wait for you in the meadow, the flowers are in bloom, and butterflies are everywhere. Please come.” “But I can’t” the princess cried! Her Visitor went to the door, opened it, and said “Come and meet me.  There is no lock and key. You are already free.” He turned, walked out the door, closing it behind Him.  She fell on the floor sobbing, “I can’t!” “I’ve tried and tried and it’s impossible!”  

…Nothing shall be impossible to you. – Matthew 17:10

As she lay on the floor crying, the princess kept hearing His voice say, “Meet me in the meadow” she sat up and thought, “I could try again, maybe it will be unlocked this time.”  She got up, walked over to the door, pulled the door, and turned the knob—nothing but rattling. “See, I told Him it won’t work for me, it is always locked for me.” She sadly turned away from the door and went and sat in her chair where, she thought, “I can at least see freedom”.  

A butterfly flew by her window heading for the meadow, she sighed and said “I wish I could go gather flowers…”

The End–If You Choose It to Be

I’ve been that princess. I’ve truly believed that I was locked in by some malevolent force that had the keys to my freedom. Even when someone showed me the door wasn’t locked and there were no keys, I refused to believe. I believed my circumstances and not the truth.  I didn’t KNOW in my heart I was already free, so I didn’t keep trying until the door opened for me.  

You are a creative – go create, KNOW and BELIEVE that no one can stop you, only you can.

Even when the princess tried again, she still believed it was locked, even when there was no lock and key. So, she quit trying.

Now I believe, I KNOW that I’m not locked in. I’ve ventured out into the halls and out into the sunshine.  I’m heading to the meadow to meet Him.  Come with me…