You Are a Warrior Princess

My daughter confessed to me her deepest fears as I tucked her damp hair behind her ear, wet from her rolling tears.

“I’m stupid.”

“I’m not pretty enough.”

“I can’t be perfect!”

“No one will like me.”

“I shouldn’t even try.”

“I’m too skinny.”

These phrases were all too familiar. They hail from ancient history, even if they’re still just beginning to be addressed today. They are the soundtrack of modern womanhood.

Soundtrack

This hateful soundtrack appears in messages everywhere, and its potency works quicker than poison and is sharper than knives. Even when you think you’ve been covering your daughter’s ears, or loudly scream-singing a different message, your protection and voice won’t be enough.

You see, a vendetta against our daughters exists even before they’re born. I do not joke when I say the message of “not enough” begins warring inside them before we can imagine. Most of us look for the battle during the teenage years and are surprised to discover that the raging war moved right in on us years earlier when we were unaware. Now we have to run to catch up.

We are left with only two real choices: We either risk losing the battle or we begin training our babies for war by giving them a sword when they’re infants. Instead of playing Mozart, we can even sing truth and royal identity over our wombs so they come out fighting.

Let’s teach them to be warrior princesses.

I Am: Warrior Princess

I don’t feel sheepish to admit that I believe I’m living two lives at once—one on the surface and one wherein I’m essentially a heroine in a high-fantasy novel. I’m a lost princess who just discovered that I’m really the heir to the kingdom. My glorious birthright must be reclaimed from the evil tyrant lest all my subjects face horrors too terrifying to name. It’s up to me—guided by the Wise One, of course—to change the world. My inborn abilities are being coaxed out as the Wise One trains me to wield my heavy sword with grace, split arrows down the middle perfectly, throw knives with legitimate skill, and squelch all evil lifeforms with a wide arsenal of potions.

Although I recognize a slight possibility that I’ve been highly influenced by my excessive late-night readings of fantasy novels written for young adults, I think Scripture concurs with this dual reality. Myth and story are embedded in our DNA. I’ve spent countless hours learning creative writing theory, and I know it’s no accident that this story formula rings true from out of our core and into the pages, over and over again.

It’s true that we are daughters of the ultimate King of Glory, his adopted heirs, because Jesus, the Prince of Peace, has conquered the “not enough” that wants to tear out our souls. He is rolling out his kingdom, coming back in a fight for light, justice, and truth while uplifting and restoring the broken. And within his story, we partner with him in the mini-novellas we’re living.

Maybe training our daughters to be warrior princesses can start simply with teaching them their role in God’s story. For with it, we bequeath to them purpose and confidence, and we empower them to fight.

Figurine

A few years back, while struggling with my identity, I bought a miniature fantasy character figurine. Less than two inches tall, this little warrior princess is a token my daughter and I pass back and forth to each other when the “not enough” soundtrack is the loudest.

The figurine reminds us that we are daughters of the king; that he is enough for us and we are enough for him. We pull on the truth of his love to again begin living as though we are loved. We remember we’re in a spiritual battle when we see this figurine stand tall. We pick up our swords to cut down lies with truth in prayer and persistence.

My miniature warrior princess reminds us that a kingdom is at stake, a kingdom where we are heirs with Jesus. It reminds us to turn to the guide in the story, the Spirit, and to surrender and ask for his help. We see where he is moving, and we join with him.

Recently, another girl moved in with me, a woman in recovery. Sometimes when the battle is raging, I hold her close, wipe the tears from her eyes. Then I put my forehead against hers and tuck a little figurine into her palm.

Now, I obviously can’t wipe away your tears, brushing your salty-damp hair back when you’re deaf from the soundtrack ringing “not enough.” But I can pass to you this picture of my warrior princess figurine to remind you of who you are. You can fight the darkness because the good king’s love lifts you up, makes you strong, and is your enough. And when you pick up your sword, do it not just for yourself and your friends, but for the daughters of the kingdom too. Even the littlest child needs to discern she’s a warrior princess, already on the winning side of the battle on her horizon.

Together, let’s rise, bringing myth into reality. We will shock the world with our audacity, living loved as the warrior princesses we are.

Elisa Johnston empowers ordinary people to make the difference they were born to make at Average Advocate, procrastinates on Instagram, and gets really excited about people bringing freedom to modern day slaves via the LBD.Project. She still explores (whenever and wherever she can) with her three littles. Thankfully, God, her husband, and other favorite introverts are all particularly grounding, because otherwise her passion to raise up leaders, disciple well, and start world-changing endeavors just might compel her into creative oblivion.