A Christmas Gift for the Princess

A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR THE PRINCESS The Princess was so excited she could hardly stand still. Christmas was only a few weeks away. Ever since she was a little girl she loved Christmas. It was such a happy time with excitement in the air and carols playing. Decorations with colored and white lights, packages with red and green ribbons. The flashing white lights looked like heavenly stars dancing on the houses and in the trees all over the Kingdom. She loved the shopping, decorating and eating the special foods saved for this time of year. Most of all she loved hearing the Christmas story about how the Prince of Peace came as a baby to save the world from a fate worse than death and from death itself. One day she was thinking about what it must have been like to be there at the stable on the day the Prince was born. The King knowing the thoughts of all His children said "Daughter, how would you like a very special Christmas present"? "Oh! Father, you know how I love presents, What is it? Please don't make me wait until Christmas morning. You know how hard it is for me to wait." The King chuckled," Yes I know. No I won't make you wait for this one. How would you like to travel back to the time of my Son's birth and experience what it was like then"? The Princess couldn't contain her excitement. This was great, something she would have never thought of asking for. "Yes, oh yes. When can I go"? "Anytime you want". He said. "Just say the word." Now, now, now" she said, "but wait, I must get ready first. What will I wear, how will I get along, I don't speak the language so how will I be understood?" "Don't worry", He said, "I have taken care of that. You will look and talk just like everyone else. So just close your eyes, take a deep breath, relax and I will do the rest". She closed her eyes and took a deep breath but found it very difficult to relax, she was so excited. In the twinkling of an eye she was there. It was late in the evening and the hustle and bustle of Bethlehem had settled down to a dull roar. She heard a woman say, "I'm sorry but there is no more room here." A man then asked, "What can we do? My wife is due to have her baby and all the inns are full, we must get out of the weather and have a little privacy for the birth is imminent." The woman answered "I'm so very sorry but there just isn't any room, every corner of the inn is filled. Wait, I think perhaps you can stay in the stable, it is smelly because of the animals but we just put in fresh clean straw and it's warm and out of the weather, just don't let anyone know its there and you will have plenty of privacy for the blessed event." The Princess knew right away what was going on. She noticed the young woman on the donkey and realized that this was her Lord's mother. She followed behind them not wanting to lose them in the crowd. When they got to the small cave where the animals were boarded she stayed outside and out of sight, not wanting to intrude. She stood there quietly in awe that she was about to witness one of the most important events in the history of the world. Not long after, she heard the young woman cry out and soon after that she heard a baby's cry. He was born, the tiny baby who would be the savior of the world, her Savior. Silently she thanked the King for this wonderful gift, not only this trip but the gift of His Son. She was trying to decide whether to go in now or wait awhile, when she saw the shepherds who had witnessed the royal birth announcement in the sky come to see Him. Songs and Praises of angels were heard. The star, the brightest and most magnificent she had ever seen hung above. What a birth announcement, truly fit for the Prince of Peace who would become the King of Kings. She knew in time the star would guide the richly dressed wisemen to pay their respects too. She could stand it no longer so she went in. There she was, the young mother, barely in her teens, smiling sleepily, holding her first born son. It was exhausting work having a baby but the mother looked refreshed as if her joy overwhelmed the fatigue she must have felt. The baby sleeping so peacefully looked very fragile, so tiny, too tiny to have a future such as His. The Princess spoke to the mother, "May I hold Him"? His mother smiled and nodded yes. Taking the baby gently in her arms the Princess was overwhelmed with all that was happening. The little Prince stirred and yawned and then snuggled close to her, unconcerned that He was being held by a stranger. Wonderment filled her as she held Him, here in her arms was the one who would save the world from their sins. She brought all her senses into play, she didn't want to miss one single moment of this tremendous experience. She held Him close to her cheek and felt His silky baby fuzz against her face, kissing His forehead she breathed in the sweetness of his baby skin. He awoke and looked intently into her eyes and she listened to His soft baby coos and wondered if He was trying to tell her He loved her. Knowing what was to come for Him she was unlike those now around her. They were caught up in viewing this miracle child, the one they now called "king". They didn't know what it would cost Him to be their king. His path would be far from easy or royal. As a child He would endure rumors about His parentage and be teased for being "different". That was not all he would have to endure, after all the Prince of Darkness knew that this babe would be his downfall. It would be this evil beings sole purpose to stop the baby's mission. As the Princess stood holding this precious bundle, the joy of the moment could not stop tears from rolling down her cheeks. The young mother noticing this looked a little puzzled and concerned. So the Princess not wanting to cause the mother distress, handed the baby back and simply said, "He is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen, you are truly the most blessed woman who ever lived". The mother looking a little relieved said, "Thank You and the Lord bless you too". In the breath of a moment the Princess was standing before the King again. He smiled knowingly and asked, "How was your trip?" The Princess full of gratitude said, "Oh Father, Thank you, thank you, thank you, I shall never forget the joy of holding your Son. This present is only second to the gift of life you gave me so many years ago. The King just said to tell others of the gift of life made possible by the gift of His Son. Moral: There is only one gift that keeps on giving and His name is Jesus. Accept Him and live forever. Linda Knox Rubenack ©1993

THE PRINCESS AND THE PRINCE OF PEACE

One day as the Princess was looking out her window, she saw all the Commoners who were citizens of the Kingdom of Darkness and she thought back to when she was one of them.

The Princess knew why and how she first came into the Kingdom of the Most High King. She had chosen to. Although she was not worthy to be there, she could choose to because of the Prince of Peace.

The Prince of Peace is the only begotten child of the King. All the other children of the King came into the family by adoption. The Commoners were not and never could be worthy to be members of the Kings family, even though they were the children of the first prince and princess created by the King. This couple were created perfect and because the King wanted someone to love him freely, he gave them the freedom to choose between his ways or to go their own way. They chose to go their own way, thereby forever sealing their childrens destiny; the way of death.

The King, being perfect, had to accept his creation's choice. Unless he could find a way to help them without breaking his own rules they would be lost forever, doomed to a miserable life under the rule of the Prince of Darkness in His Kingdom of Eternal Darkness. This is where the Prince of Peace came in.

The King, the Kingdom Comforter and the Prince of Peace had a conference and decided that the only way to win back the freedom of the King's children was for the Prince of Peace to lay aside his royalty and become as one of the Commoners. He could walk among them and show them the way out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light, which was his Father's, the King's realm. The Prince of Peace had a hard road ahead. He would have to live as the Commoners lived and because of the darkness over the kingdom, he would be hated by many. Finally he would take on himself the punishment due the Commoners because of their rejection of the King. The punishment was horrendous, not only physically but emotionally and most of all spiritually. It would mean a period of time that Father and Son would be separated, totally and absolutely. This had never happen before for the Father and the Son were so completely one that it was impossible to distinguish where one ended and the other began. That moment of separation would be the most unthinkable part of the punishment, the one thing he dreaded most. That broken fellowship that he would endure for a time, that total darkness is what the Commoners were doomed to experience for eternity if a way out was not provided. The Prince of Peace agreed so because of His and His Father's love for the Commoners, he would bear the unbearable.

It was for this reason that the Princess was able to come into the Kingdom of Light. The Prince of Peace provided the way, the Kingdom Comforter made the offer and the King welcomed her after she accepted.

She had never regretted it. She did have times when she wondered if it was worth it. Times when she was hurting emotionally, physically or even spiritually. Then she would think of the plight of the Commoners who had the same human frailties she had, but no Heavenly Father to go to with their hurts. She knew without a doubt she had made the right decision.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS THIS: IF YOU ARE A COMMONER YOU NEED TO ACCEPT THE KINGS GRACIOUS OFFER AND BECOME ONE OF HIS CHILDREN. THE ALTERNATIVE IS UNTHINKABLE. Linda Knox Rubenack © 1992