Lily and the Prince

There once lived a beautiful young woman, Lily, in a tiny yellow house with just enough room for two. Since the day she first read of the tale of the bold, courageous knight rescuing the princess from the evil that hunted her, she longed for her own Prince Charming to come save her from herself.

In the corner of her room stood a figure made from straw and sticks strategically placed to form a man six feet tall, plain and pale. She slaved day and night, rain and shine, fall and spring in order to perfect his already handsome physique. Eyes, nose, hair and mouth were all given in hopes that one day this prince may truly come alive.

They did everything together, all the time, day after day, night after night. Summertime was spent in the fields of wildflowers and cold winters consisted of snuggling close by the fire. He listened intently to all of her stories without interrupting and always had a smile when she needed one most. But even with all of that, this prince that she had perfectly designed could not comfort her at night when all she wanted was to be loved. You see, there, down deep in her heart, she could still feel that empty pit that only left her heart more lonely than the night before.

Then one day, while they were enjoying their daily routine of being together, Lily heard a vicious roar of thunder and saw a blinding strike of lightening. Her eyes grew wide and her heart raced as the trees were suddenly tossed side to side under the control of the trecherous winds. She looked to her prince for some sort of instruction on what to do, but he was as shocked as her, frozen still, eyes unblinking. She desperately clung to him as the storm tore through her house, taking with it not only parts of her home, but pieces of the perfect plan she had preciscely prepared for her future.

When all hope was gone and Lily was bracing herself for the end, a desperate knock rang through the house. She startled and hushed to a complete silence as she wondered if it was true. Was that a real knock? Someone to save them? Then, with even more urgency she heard it again. She looked to her prince in fear, and then bravely ventured towards the door. When she peered out the window she saw a man completely dry, holding an umbrella and a tiny box. Her face scrunched in confusion as she glanced at the man that stood so calmly in the middle of the raging storm. He slipped a note under the tattered door, that read: "I know a safe place to hide. Come to me and I'll show you peace."

A sense of urgency filled her as she rushed back to explain to her prince that they should leave now with this man. When he didn't move or even blink, she tugged at his arm to hurry him along, but all he did was fall over to his side and land with a loud thump. He was too heavy to drag with all of the water weighing down his straw muscle. She looked back at the man at the door who was waving his hand for her to come. Tears stained her cheeks as she realized her prince wouldn't survive. How could she leave behind her best friend, her perfect prince, the only one who she though could ever bring her happiness? But she knew it was what she must do in order to live.

A gust of wind blew her back against the wall when she opened the door. Tightly clutching her hat, she took one last look back as her heart broke into a million tiny pieces. She gathered the strength she had left, reached out and took hold of the man's open hand as he pulled her close, safely under his umbrella.

Suddenly, the rushing winds ceased, the thunder stopped it's tantrum of shouts and the lightening gave way to beautiful skies filled with white clouds and golden rays of sun. The trees overflowed with bright green leaves and pink flowers sprinkled the ground with life. In amazement, Lily slowly brought her eyes up to meet the peaceful gaze of the man holding the umbrella. He looked down and smiled as he pulled from his pocket the tiny box.

"Open it," he said smiling, as he handed it to her.
Taking the velvet gift in her hands, she slowly lifted the lid. Her eyes sparkled at the sight of a pure, golden heart locket hanging from its beautiful chain, the kind that only a prince would give to a princess. The man's face lit up at the awe and wonder that filled Lily's eyes.

"It's for you," He told her as he fastened it around her neck.
"I've had this gift since the day you were born, since the very first time I ever saw you. I've been waiting for you all of this time, but you were too busy creating a fake love to satisfy the desires deep within you. You were so focused on him that I knew I'd never be able to have you until you let him go and realized that I'm the only one who can satisfy you. You see, Lily," he gently said, as he lifted her chin so that she could see the sincerity that flowed from his heart, "I love you."
"I always have and I always will."
"Nothing can ever separate us."

A peace automatically overtook her at his words and a joy spilled from deep within her. The place in her heart that her perfected prince could never fill was now overflowing with love. She looked up at the man in complete adoration, and she knew, then and there, that he was her true Prince. Her Savior.

"For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." Psalm 107:9