She prepared a meal for us. It wasn't fancy, but so delicious, simple, filling, delightful. Friendships were rekindled as we, twelve ladies, broke bread enjoying her delicious chili.
The movie, One Night With The King began to play as we gathered around the television. Our hearts were united as we watched Queen Esther being prepared for her king and then plead for her nation.........with determination, wisdom, and grace. We all wanted to be Esther. Her dresses were very pretty! She was very pretty! However every outward appearance paled compared to the inner strength she so ravishingly demonstrated.
Next, Sarah opened the book, Finding Favor With The King by Tommy Tenney and read a few pages. The pages described the chamberlain who had prepared Esther for her night with the king.
"We don't succeed by doing things our way to please 'me, myself, and I'. Success comes when we heed the wisdom passed down from the King's chamberlains about what most pleases the King." (T. Tenney)
Ointments described seemed to invite their fragrance into the room as we listened to the delicate words..........Esther was in the finest spa of the day.........and we all wanted to be her!!! But it was so much more than that.......Esther surrendered to the King's ways........She wanted to please the King so she willingly bowed to the wisdom of one who knew Him well, knew Him best.....She was preparing for an encounter with the King.....an encounter that would make history turn and take a bow, so she listened to one who had been in the King's most inner courts. One who had captured His secrets.
Tears fell from Sarah's eyes as she read the words. She looked into our eyes......each one had gathered to celebrate Sarah...........and she was celebrating us...... thanking us through tears for being like chamberlains in her life like the one described from the pages she had just shared....... the one who prepared Esther to meet her king. She was gratefully celebrating that we had been mentors, friends, godly examples for her........Our hearts were humbled.......we were saying "when did we?"..........
Her gratefulness was demonstrated as she took an oil, made to be an exact representation of the anointing oil used in Bible times she had saved for this special occasion, bowing over each one of us with prayers of blessing. Tears fell, fragrance filled the room, humility danced in our hearts, wonder spilled........as she prayed over each one of us.....
She turned to me with oil in her hand, tears in her eyes, a question in her heart, "Would you anoint me?"
I took the oil from her hand, placed a drop on her face, and began to pray as we all gathered around her..........embracing the beautiful young woman she had become........and we all wanted to be like her!
A hush settled in the room as if an unseen stranger had come to celebrate the beauty of the moment with us...........the King of glory........He had found His chamber.......
Gifts were shared......... beautiful photos Sarah had taken, given to each one.........verses chosen through prayer carefully selected for each special guest inscribed on the back.
Sarah was 22.........
Today is Sarah's 23rd birthday...........
A year has passed, but a memory is etched in my heart, treasured, archived.........I will take the gift of honor Sarah gave me that night into an eternal chamber prepared for me.
We all left Sarah's home knowing that we had been in the chambers of our King......... a fragrance escorting us home.........anointing, blessings, gifts, love, gratitude, beauty.........abundance of grace..........
Isn't that we can expect in the chamber of our King...........
Happy Birthday, Sarah!!!!
Lovingly,
Cheri
Esther 2:15 & 17 "When the turn came for Esther.............to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the harem had suggested.
(17) And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti."
2 comments:
This has to be the most beautiful story I have ever read - what a treasured gift this young girl bestowed on all of you. You are causing me to remember the "King's chamberlains" in my life who have shared their wisdom with me, teaching and preparing me to meet my King. This truly is such a loving, selfless, gracious, blessing. I think I would have spent my entire night in tears, so humbled at receiving such a precious gift.
Sarah (who's very name means, "Princess"), sounds like an absolutely incredible young woman...a Queen Esther of our generation. Thank you for sharing this with us Cheri.
Love & prayers,
Joy
Words cannot express how special this evening was, Joy. It was wrapped in a heavenly aura! So special!
Sarah is amazing! She is very dear to my heart. I see her as a Queen Esther of this generation, too. She demonstrates genuine, eternal beauty all the time. She is a very rare "princess"..........indeed! She has been a chamberlain for me, directing me to the King's heart!
Love to you, Joy!
Cheri
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