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Stephanie Rische

Blogger and Writer: Capturing Stories of God's Grace

March 24, 2015

Real-Life Princesses

princess partyI recently had the privilege of being in a room full of 20-some little princesses. We had a princess party, where I got to don a tiara and read my book My Princesses Learn to Be Brave to a gaggle of girls decked out in fancy dresses.

After I read my book, they asked me questions about being author (one wide-eyed girl couldn’t believe the book-writing process took so long—she said she could make a book way faster than a year!). And best of all, we talked about what it means to be a real princess.

“How did you come up with the idea for the story?” one girl dressed like Elsa said.

I was happy she asked. Because while it’s fun to wear a pretty dress and embrace the wands and the sparkles, what I really want girls to know is this: it’s even more important to be beautiful on the inside. And while they may meet their Prince Charming one day, there’s a lot more to life than “happily ever after.”

As I looked around at those precious faces surrounding my reading chair, I desperately wanted them to know they are already loved—more than they could imagine or hope for. They are adored daughters of the King of Kings, which makes them the truest kind of princess. And this King delights in creating beauty in them—not only on the outside but in their very character.

I didn’t say all this to them in the moment (after all, there were pink-frosted cupcakes to be eaten and bookmarks to be decorated). But as these little princesses grow up, this is what I pray they’ll come to know, deep in their souls.princess party

Being beautiful isn’t what you look like; it’s about who you are becoming on the inside.

You don’t need to go out looking for love; you are already loved beyond words, beyond comprehension.

You don’t ever have to wonder if you’re pretty enough or smart enough or good enough. You are God’s daughter, and in him, you are enough.

***

Note to Moms/Grandmas/Friends: If you’d like to host a princess party for the little princesses in your life, I’d be honored to come and read my book and answer questions. Have tiara, will travel!

My Princesses Learn to Be Brave

 

6 Comments Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: character, girls, inner beauty, princess, princess party
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September 16, 2014

A Book for the Little Princess in Your Life…

my-princesses-learn-to-be-brave-book-coverIf you have little girls in your life, you know that princesses are everywhere—in the dress-up box, at birthday parties, on TV, at the store. And there are good things about this princess era we live in, because it’s important for girls to feel special and beautiful.

But most of us long for more than pretty dresses and tiaras for the girls we love. Our desire is for them to become beautiful on the inside as well. We want them to know where their real identity is found—that since God is their Father, they are daughters of the King. That makes them true princesses.

To read the rest of the article and to find out more about my new book about princesses, bullying, and Queen Esther, you can check out Tyndale’s blog here.

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: Bible, bullying, children's literature, girls, princess, Tyndale House Publishers
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November 15, 2013

9 Books Every Girl Should Read

Whether you’re looking for a book for a girl you love or you missed these along the way in your childhood, here are nine of my top titles for girls.

williams-velveteen-rabbitThe Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
This book offers some profound insights about how love can hurt, but how it’s also what makes you real.

“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.”

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.

“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”

a_wrinkle_in_time_coverA Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
I’m not sure if this is an adult book that can also be appreciated by kids or a kids book that can also be appreciated by adults, but it holds up for any age, any generation. I remember reading it and having my eyes opened to the wonder and mystery just under the surface of ordinary life. I also felt a special kinship with Meg, who doesn’t seem to fit in with her peers but finds herself uniquely equipped to deal with another world once she arrives there—a world she never even dreamed of.

The Bridge to Terabridge_to_terabithia_coverbithia by Katherine Paterson
This was the first book I remember reading that didn’t have a happy ending. Although I felt indignant about it at the time, I grew to appreciate the beautiful picture of friendship painted in this book and how the characters’ grief prepared me to face my own losses.

secret_gardenThe Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
This book serves as a reminder that friendship can blossom just as surely as flowers do, that miracles are possible, and that hope is worth clinging to.

 “Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?” . . .

“It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine.”

little_women_coverLittle Women by Louisa May Alcott
I think every girl has a little bit of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy in her. These sisters helped me grow up and figure out who I was, and they showed me how to stay true to what I stood for.

anne_of_green_gablesAnne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
I read this series so many times the books are now practically falling apart. After I read each book as a kid, I’d give it to my grandmother (she of the red hair and the spunky personality, just like Anne) and we’d talk about it together. Looking back, I suppose it was my first impromptu book club.

little-house-on-the-prairieLittle House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I must have overlooked the parts about dysentery, the lack of indoor plumbing, and the absence of central air, but I desperately wanted to go back in time so I could be Laura. This book offers a poignant snapshot of a particular era in our country’s history, and it’s rich with themes of family relationships and the tough times can help us learn and grow.

“There’s no great loss without some small gain.”

pippi_longstockingPippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
This book is pure fun. My sister and I loved wearing colorful stockings and putting our hair in pigtails, Pippi style.

winnie_the_horse_gentlerWinnie the Horse Gentler by Dandi Daley Mackall
This book came into my life when I was an adult, like a long-lost friend, but it’s a story every girl should read. Horse lover or not, every girl will connect with the ups and the downs of being a kid, the longing for friendship, and the way the funny moments of life weave together with the more serious ones.

What were your favorite books as a kid? I’d love to hear your list.

6 Comments Filed Under: Literature, Start Here Tagged With: Anne of Green Gables, book, books, children, children's literature, education, Faith, Family, Frances Hodgson Burnett, girls, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Literature, Pippi Longstocking, reading, The Velveteen Rabbit
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