Carrie woke on her sixth birthday to the sound of singing. She knew instantly that it was her birthday, her very own day. She opened her eyes to discover that balloons had been tied all around her bed - a canopy. The celebration had begun. Her mom was standing by her bedside, holding a coffee cake with a lit candle in it, and her dad was there, too, and both of them were singing, "Haaappy Biiirthdaaay tooo youuuu!" Oh, unhindered joy! Squeals of delight, kisses, hugs, and "hoorays!" welcomed her into this day - just as she had been welcomed into the world six years earlier. Her father whispered to his "Little Princess" that he loved her. Her mother reminded her again of how happy she was to have such a wonderful daughter.
There was no doubt about it - this little girl was delighted in.
Life for Carrie was closer to life as God meant it to be for every little girl. She KNEW that her father cherished her. She was his princess. He was her knight in shining armor. He wanted to spend time with her. Carrie KNEW her mother loved her and wanted her. Hers was a world where her father protected her, her mother nurtured her, and she was enjoyed. This is the soil a girl's soul was meant to grow in; this was the garden her young heart was meant to flourish within. Every little girl should be so loved, so welcomed - seen, known, treasured. From this place she can become a strong and beautiful and confident woman.
If only that was how it was for all of us.
---John & Stasi Eldredge, Captivating

Wow, I have to say when I read this....this brought tears to my eyes!!! Even more so when I read, "She knew that her father cherished her. She was his princess." When I read that, I thought....wow....God....King of Kings....CHERISHES......me! Let that sink in!!!! He cherishes you! Say this aloud and fill in your name....I, ____, am CHERISHED by the Almighty! WOW!!! (and that's not just for girls...guys goes for you too! lol...I dont' wanna leave ya'll out!!) But for girls...this story is the kinda love we look for! We are so big on being accepted, loved, wanted, CHERISHED, and DELIGHTED in!!! I think that's why so many girls are so longing for love is because the don't know or understand that someone does love them that way! If they only knew, or if we could only always remember that!!! Girls....there is a love for us beyond words...an EVERLASTING love!!!! An AMAZING, adventures......LOVE!!!! I'm so blessed and excited that God has called me out to find out about it! But He's not only called me, He's called all of us.....even you! Who's willing to take an adventure with me!?