The Princess and the Stereo

Hello everyone! I hope you are all staying safe and healthy.

I’ve been working on writing a revised fairy tale lately, so, as the mood is still with me, I will continue that voice today. Enjoy.

The Princess and the Stereo

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…

(Technically it was twenty-eight or so years ago in the hills of sunny California that my story took place, but let’s not get stuck on technicalities.)

…there lived a king, a queen and a young princess.

(Okay, okay, so we’re not royalty, but what fun is a fairy tale without a royal family and a castle?)

Ours was a modest home (uhum, castle!) as became our modest kingdom, but we were happy in our little castle, my husband, our toddler, and me—I mean, King, Princess, and Queen. 

While living in our little fairy tale home, we scrimped and saved and did without (because we are good rulers who don’t tax our people unnecessarily) until, one day we had enough for the splurge of our married lives. 

We purchased a stereo system.

It was no ordinary boom box. No, this marvel had four-foot tall speakers, a turntable, cassette players AND a CD player. The quality of sound it put out would have drawn Snow White out of hiding and awakened Sleeping Beauty like true love’s kiss.

Many delightful hours were spent lying on the carpet in front of those magnificent speakers, our daughter sprawled across her Daddy’s chest, engulfed in the beauty that surrounded us. If we closed our eyes we could imagine sitting in Carnegie Hall, we could hear the whisper of turning pages, hear the tat-tat of the conductor’s baton against a music stand, we could feel the music pulse deep in our bones.

With such magical possessions comes great responsibility to protect them, so we set about training our little princess to not touch those powerful buttons and knobs. 

For the most part, she listened, for she was a good and sweet natured child. (Most of the time.)

One particular evening as my husband and I sat in the royal sitting room, distracted in one way or the other, our little princess noticed our attention was elsewhere. 

With a glance our way, then at the stereo and back at us, she made a dash toward the forbidden object. Tiny fingers turned various knobs before discovering the one that powered the magic. All of a sudden, all peace was shattered as there came from the speakers a powerful roar that shook the windows like a California earthquake. 

Our terrified little darling threw her arms up in the air and ran screaming straight into her father’s arms. There she hid while her father, the king, comforted and reassured her. 

In his arms, she knew she was safe.

I, laughing hysterically in a most queenly fashion, hurried to turn off the traitorous machine.

So often we learn about our Heavenly Father’s love by witnessing the earthly love of a father and child. 

When fear has us not knowing where to turn, learn from a child.

When afraid, Daddy was the first one our daughter ran to.

Our Heavenly Father longs to take us into His arms, soothe our fear, forgive us, let us know that in His arms we are safe.

Does the fear of the moment leave you not knowing where to turn? Does guilt or fear of rejection keep you from the Father’s arms? 

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Mt. 7:11)

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20b)

So, the Princess grew lovely and strong, secure in her father’s love. Now, she has a King and castle of her own, with four fine princes running the castle grounds and learning the lessons their parents learned before them. 

Trusting and smiling, 

Brenda