When I was four years old, I remember my mom buying me my first princess dress! For several seconds, I just clung to the plastic package containing the dress, peering at what I thought was the most gorgeous Snow White princess dress, before tearing off the cardboard label and ravaging through the plastic to free my dress, my tiara and my sparkly shoes! My little heart pounded with excitement as I disrobed with haste … a transformation was coming. First, I slid my wiggling toes under a see-through, sparkly band ornamented with a cameo of Snow White and into my tiny, red wedge heels. Never had my feet seemed so elegant. This definitely trumped parading through the house in my mother’s favorite pumps. My arms rose straight into the air as I threw the yellow and blue dress with poofy sleeves up and over my head. It was just like Snow White’s! My fidgety fingers reached around the back to seal the crunchy Velcro, and with the final fastening, a princess arrived.

Oh, but wait … there was one last piece!

I reached for my silver bedazzled plastic tiara. Holding it high, I slowly and dramatically let it descend to its resting place above my head where the combed ends nestled themselves into my dark brown stringy hair. Trying not to tumble over in my new plastic heels, I climbed up on my mother’s bed so I could see my whole self in her dresser mirror. This was it! I straightened my back, pulled back my shoulders, held my head up high and proudly declared: “I’m a real princess now!”

I dreamed of “Happily Ever After Land,” my very own Prince Charming and true love’s kiss.

Once I was in junior high, it didn’t take long for me to realize that my first crush was no Prince Charming at all. He was just a boy—moody with hormonal changes—who had lacked the ability to recognize a true princess’ heart, which made him a real toad. Needless to say, with every new relationship came the disappointing realization that I live in a “not-so-fairytale” world, and my princess heart began to slowly wane.

It wasn’t until I was a 19-year-old woman who had made her fair share of mistakes—who had turned her back on “the dream” because she held her broken heart in her hands—that the True Prince presented himself.

It’s kind of funny to say, but I finally met my Prince in a bathroom on my aunt and uncle’s ranch in the middle of nowhere California. I had heard the rumors about Him—He was a gentleman and He always went to great lengths to lavish His love on His beloved. As I began to be intrigued, hope welled in my heart—hope of true love. At last, He came knocking on the door of my heart and offered me His devotion. His name was Jesus, and when I asked Him to come in and make my heart His home, an indescribable love flowed over me and washed away my sin and all the sting of my mistakes. I stood with a mended princess heart. Gone was the fantasy dream of this world with all its false expectations. I was adopted into a new kingdom. I was His princess now!

It was amazing to learn that while I was still in my mother’s womb God was fashioning me into His princess with passions, giftings and a bent towards my destiny. He created me for greatness in Him. I believe as women we are each created for greatness; yet our greatness may look different because, as women, we are different. We were created in the womb to be different. We are the mosaic masterpieces of our Maker. Though our greatness may look varied, no one person’s greatness is any lesser than another’s. Each of us is a princess being wooed towards her destiny.

My destiny involved meeting my earthly prince a few years later, getting married and starting a family (of all princes). That’s not to say there aren’t days when I feel like I’ve lost my princess edge. Days when I’ve held my newborn while making a gourmet dinner of mac and cheese as my eighteen-month-old played with refrigerator magnets at my feet. Days when my hair is tousled in a ponytail because I’m lucky if I get a shower before Mr. Prince comes home from work. Sometimes I don’t feel like a princess at all—constantly cleaning spit up off of my shirt with baby wipes, clearing out the diaper genie and, when all are asleep, finding the energy to dote on my Mr. Prince. But even in this stage of life, greatness can be found; I hear Jesus whisper, “Greatness isn’t found in the mundane day-to-day chores of serving your family ... it’s found in your heart as you serve them.”

Jesus’ plan for my destiny didn’t stop with my family. He began to stir my princess heart for us as women—His women—half of His church! He asked me to dream again, to allow the gifts He had given me to mature, to take steps towards His destiny for me, which has included doing a lot of things outside of my comfort zone. I have now become devoted to the purposes He has placed in my heart…devoted to pursue an intimate friendship with my God while serving others. I have learned that He is always with me ... my faithful Prince Charming! He has awakened the princess heart in me to confidently pursue greatness in Him! Because being a princess is only preparation for one day becoming His Queen!