Queen Cranky Pants
I’m sure I’m not the only girl who feels this way sometimes. I’m sure many of you have much bigger problems. No matter who we are, we go through times of darkness in our lives.
This week I started a study on Esther for a specific person with a specific need. This young lady is going through a readjustment herself, and Esther came to mind as a character study to share with her. As I was studying and meditating on the first part of the story, I realized the message was for me as well.
This girl, Esther, was not in an optimal situation. She was an Israelite living in captivity. She was an orphan. She is taken into a harem where she will spend a year preparing to meet the king. She must hide her identity, which almost certainly meant she could not befriend or commiserate with the other Jewish girls within the harem. While she was surrounded by people, I can’t help but think she was in a very lonely place. If anyone had a good reason to be Queen Cranky Pants it was Esther.
Yet as I read the first two chapters of Esther I do not see any evidence of an upset spirit. In fact it says that she had “won favor in the eyes of all who saw her”. A gorgeous girl with an ugly attitude does not win favor in the eyes of others. We can all think of a lady like that. One who is beautiful, yet the beauty is only skin deep. I believe Esther’s beauty was a well that spilled over into her countenance. She did not allow circumstance to control her attitude.
Esther was also obedient. She obeyed Mordecai. I alluded to it before, but I think there would have been some loneliness in protecting her identity. She obeyed her father figure though and was rewarded. I can think of people in our society today who would say to their guardian “Well you aren’t the boss of me”, or “I’m not joining the harem you can’t make me!” Aren’t those things you can hear someone saying today? No doubt people have said or thought those things since the beginning of time, but there is no record of Esther doing any such thing.
So today I’m asking the Lord to take away my crankiness, and help me be more like Queen Esther instead.
loraena
1257 days ago
Great post, Keri. We certainly do all have days/times like that. Have you read “Twelve Extraordinary Women” by John MacArthur? It is an in-depth study of 12 biblical women, although I don’t think Esther was one of them. Studying the lives of women in the Bible can really help get a biblical perspective.
The Barkers
1256 days ago
Thanks for that! I needed it too.Joe just came off night shift. About the 3rd-4th week of him being on it we all seem to start having melt downs. I can’t help but think I set so many of those moods we go through. Thankfully he is on days, starting yesterday and things are looking up! I need to read through Esther when night shift comes around again!
Karen
1255 days ago
Great post, Keri! Thanks.
Paul & Amy
1250 days ago
Great post, Keri. You have real talent and I enjoy reading your blog. This one was a fave for me…think I’ll go read Esther again.
Diane Heeney
1238 days ago
So many women today are in a state of transition. Life just seems more changeable in our generation. Thanks for practically addressing that here. =)
Martin LaBar
1220 days ago
. . . and she even let other people pick out her clothes and jewelry for her!