His Masterpiece

“Are you ready to meet Princess Lily?” asked the fairy godmother-in-training who was pampering my five year old at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

A decade ago, it was my older daughter Evie in that chair, courtesy of a birthday gift from her aunt. Today, she was making the same dream come true for her little sister. Evie and I sat on the edge of our cushioned seats in the elaborately decorated room, as Lily’s chair swiveled in our direction…

<<GASP>>

Introducing Princess Lily!

Just as dramatic as Cinderella’s transformation in the garden at the hands of her fairy godmother, the littlest, craziest, loudest member of our family was completely transformed… the dress, the hair, the makeup, the nails, the fairy dust (aka glitter), the tiara… princess perfection!

And she knew it… Our little spit fire, our “Bam Bam,” in an incredible feat of royal stamina, stayed in character the entire day spent at Epcot… every action, every movement, dainty and angelic.

Our family visits Disney World approximately once a decade, and until this year, never in the middle of a school year, so our four days in the “land of the Mouse” in January were highly anticipated and fully thrilling. For me, our experiences at Bibbidi for both of our girls symbolize the two trademarks of the Disney experience – the exquisite attention to quality in everything, and the inexhaustible commitment to treat every guest as special.

I couldn’t help but make the connection to how much more these are trademarks of our Heavenly Father! Walk with me as I explore this thought…

Walt Disney lived by his own words, “Whatever you do, do it well,” and today, continued commitment to the founder’s ideals is evident in every exhibit and experience in the parks. From the spectacular fireworks in Magic Kingdom, to the authentic charm of each country in Epcot, to the meticulously detailed surreal world of Pandora in Animal Kingdom, it is clear that the parks are, in Disney’s words, “a work of love.”

This is the legacy of a man committed to quality. Yet even Disney acknowledged, “I resent the limitations of my own imagination.”

There are no limits to God’s imagination. His Word says that He “made the world and everything in it” (Acts 17:24), and that everything He created was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). In fact, the most remarkable sights at Disney World are God’s handiwork… the gorgeous sunsets, the majestic animals, and most intricate of all, the people.

Ephesians 2:10 describes us as His “masterpiece.” The Psalmist declares, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous…” (Psalm 139:13-14). Talk about a work of love!

Take Lily, for example. My high-energy kindergartener, typically muddy from playing outside with the little boy who lives next door, was transformed into a sparkly princess at Bibbidi. But the raw materials – her flaxen hair, sky blue eyes, adorable dimples, and contagious laugh – those came from the Master Creator.

While our little princess received compliments all day, she was not the only one treated like royalty. All of us were. Anyone who has experienced the pleasantness, unflappability, and patience of a Disney “cast member” (aka employee) can attest that “Be Our Guest” is more than a famous Disney song… it’s the anthem for Disney’s guest services. Nowhere is this more obvious than when waiting in line to meet a princess. The weariness of the wait disappears the moment the princess gives your child her undivided attention, asks her questions, and really listens to her.

But nobody does “special” like God! I once heard someone question, “How can we all be special to God?” Any parent of multiple children can testify that all of our children are special to us! It’s no different with our Heavenly Father.

The Psalmist continues, “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book... How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! (Psalm 139:16-17). He delights in us (Psalm 149:4) and rejoices over us (Zephaniah 3:17). The God who handcrafted us endured the cross for the joy of restoring us (Hebrews 12:2). There is nothing in all of life more special than that.

The princess's first look in the mirror.

In our humanity and brokenness, it’s easy to forget how special we are to our Heavenly Father. Lily may have surprised us, and even herself, with her dainty princess-like behavior that sunny day in Epcot, but she was actually more herself that day than in any day before or since. She is a princess. She is a precious child of the King of Kings, intimately known and forever loved. We all are.

You might not feel like the princess or prince you were designed to be, but that mud puddle you sometimes find yourself in is not your true habitat. Climb up into that chair, dirt and all. Gaze into the mirror of God’s transforming love, and let Him remind you of who you are – His masterpiece.