No pictures. If you are a parent, you will be forgiving by the time I get to the end of this.
So, true story:
My Princess (We'll call her Princess A) spent some time with a friend (who we will call Princess B). With me? All was going well, until Princess B decided it would be REALLY cool to be super mean to Princess A, seeing how Princess B was holding court with Princesses C, D, E, F, G, and H. Of course, Princess A, tenderhearted lass that she is, was heart broken. She tried everything she could think of to get Princess B to be nice. Princess C did as well. Princess E even said, "Why can't we ALL just be friends?!?!?!". Finally, the Queen (um, that would be ME. My blog.) noticed it was time to head for greener pastures (um, our house). Upon travelling to the homeland, the Queen noticed tears in her rear-view mirror. The sad story spilled out. Seeing this as a Teachable Moment, the Queen graciously directed her daughter towards kind thoughts, forgiveness, and love. Yet inside, the Queen's heart was slowly rotating down a deep, dark tunnel of Unforgiveness.
I hate that story. I mean, Carly watched the Chipmunk Movie and was over it. Not so, for her mother. As a parent, you want to protect your child from Mean Girls. You want them to NEVER be the Mean Girl, and if you are a McGregor? Then you kindly share the consequences with them if you ever find out that THEY are the Mean Girl. So, by 10pm, Ryan and I had looked at real estate in Oregon and our house is on the market. Ok, kidding. Ryan told me I was being irrational. Plus, he had just installed a new garbage disposal for me and figured we have AT LEAST 3 years on that, so "can't we stay here until then???".
There's a small amount of history with Princess B. This isn't the first time we've seen this behavior. And to say that we are tired of it, tired of exposing OUR Princess to such meanness, is an understatement. So we prayed about it. You know, asked God for direction. A clear understanding of how we should handle what has become a perpetual problem. How to protect Carly's innocence (Princess B is WAY more "mature" than any 8 year old I've even seen). Even asked him to make us completely aware if Carly is ever The One being mean. I feel asleep last night dreaming of the Oregon Coast.
And was promptly awakened by a horrible nightmare. So horrible, I can't even say it. But you know what I did hear? God saying, "I love Princess B just as much as I love Carly".
I hate this story.
Then I started arguing:
"Um, no you don't"
"Yes, I do"
"Nope. You don't"
"Yes, I do"
"Can't possibly. Carly loves you. B doesn't even KNOW you"
"I know her. I love them both."
"You can't"
"Yes, I can"
"No, you can't."
"Yes, I can."
(I will promise you, this went on for a good 1/2 hour... then came...)
"This morning when Carly headed down the aisle to take communion and you whispered in her ear, "He did this for you"? You SHOULD have said, "He did this for you AND Princess B".
I guess there wasn't anything else to say after that.
I was up a little longer asking for forgiveness. I hate doing that, especially when it involves a bratty, selfish girl. I hate it when I'M the bratty, selfish girl. Thankfully, He is forgiving. Thankfully, when He says "Yes I can", He means it.
So, this morning? First "Prayer Request" out of Carly's mouth during devotions? "Princess B". With a little sheepish grin.
2 comments:
we have one of those here also except ours are princes. My prince has pretty much stayed away and I have let him. We didn't invite him to his birthday party which was very hard to do especially since I am good friends with prince B's mom. The good thing is is that we don't go to the same school or church, so it makes it easy to stay away....not sure what i would do if it was someone in school that he couldn't get away from, i will learn from you :)
I could have written than tale many a time ... and, sadly, there will be many more mean princesses. And, sadly, I will want to rip out each one's hair. Because evidently I am also a mean princess! Praying helps. We have prayed for God to bless many mean girls ... and, surprisingly, the one to change has been us. God is funny like that. Thanks for the reminder that He ABSOLUTELY came for her too ... praying that Carly will continue to be kind and that through her kindness Princess B will become HIS princess too! Love you!
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