WHAT KIND OF A PRINCESS ARE YOU
When I was a little girl I loved fairy tales! Princesses… and castles… and magic… and handsome princes!
I was particularly fond of a little known fairy tale called ROSE RED AND ROSE WHITE… a story about two princesses, one good and one naughty.
The illustrations in the book were stunning and beautifully detailed. I was fascinated by those images.
One picture really captured my imagination and got my attention…
It was a picture of one of the princesses spewing frogs and lizards and flies and snakes up and out of her mouth… while rose petals gracefully fell from the lips of the other princess.
The story goes that the princess who had the “pestilence problem” also had trouble controlling her tongue and said mean and horrid things… while the princess who’s lips were rose tinged would only say kind and uplifting thing.
This made a very big impression on me as a seven year old!
ROSE RED AND ROSE WHITE could almost be a parable that Jesus would have told… there is great biblical and practical truth in it. But instead Jesus said…
FOR THE MOUTH SPEAKS OUT OF THAT WHICH FILLS THE HEART~ Matt 12:34
At the time these eternal words were spoken by Jesus, the heart (cardia in Greek) was thought to be the center or seat of physical and spiritual activity. It was the mind, intellect, emotions and will of a person.
Jesus was saying that when we speak in unkind ways, use bad language, speak out negative thoughts, or hurt other with our words…
we do not have a mouth problem… we have a heart problem.
Our mouth reflects and affects our heart (mind). Words have great power to hurt and heal… even us!
Jesus says in HIS word… work on your heart… guard your lips… speak out words in love and filled with lovel!
So here is my gentle advice… and maybe God’s advice… to the princess with the “pestilence problem”… fill your heart with God’s word… pray Ps. 141:3 daily, SET A GUARD OVER MY MOUTH O LORD, KEEP WATCH OVER THE DOOR OF MY LIPS”…. and act like the princess we all know you can be!!!
Thank you for helping motivate me to be a better person.
Thank you so much for those inspired words! You are a special lady!!
Great comparison, Yvonne. I loved that fairytale, too. Not many people seem familiar with it.
Kind and loving heart and words.
What a timely and important post. Crude language is so generally accepted societally, that I find myself not only less offended by it, but sometimes succumbing to it.
I will incorporate this verse into my daily prayers.
Thank you!
Perfect timing Yvonne! I am wrestling with an issue which needs me to say something to one of my sons – this verse will guide me 🙂 Blessings to you *^_^*
Thank you for the food for thought. I always strive for: If you can’t say something nice — don’t say anything at all. It is well worth while to stop and think before saying something negative about someone or something. Good reminder, Yvonne! Have a wonderful Sunday.
Truth
Yvonne, I have never heard that story before, but I will search for it and share it with my grandchildren. Thank-you for sharing.
A wonderful reminder. Thank you Princess. ☺️
Love you Sunday morning lessons Yvonne. Thank you for doing them for us.
Amen!
Love this!!
I, too, loved that story as a child. What a great comparison to Scripture! If everyone guarded their lips, what a different, and wonderful, world this would be.
Blessings to you on this Lord’s Day.
I love your blog Yvonne. Thank you for your encouraging thoughts – I remember that story too. Just wanted to say I love your home and all your beautiful ideas I am truly inspired by your ideas and your lovely spiritual thoughts. I think if I lived closer to you than Australia we could be friends!! x
Again, thank you for starting my Sunday on the right foot!
Sue
So true….thank you for sharing.
Thank you for putting this on my heart as I get ready for church and worship this morning. <3
Love this post. I’ll be looking for Rose Red Rose White- if it’s still available. It would be a perfect, Biblical example on the importance of guarding our tongues for my grandchildren. Thank you
Thank you for this wonderful post. To be truthful, I am probably a little bit of both princesses. While I do try to be kind with my words, often times I fail. And in being more truthful, I also fail at times to take the opportunity to say a kindness when I could have and should have, and remained silent instead. (A third princess?) Your beautiful post reminds us all of the power of our words.
I tried looking on line for this fable, but was not successful. I did find several references to Snow White and Rose Red, but I am not convinced that is what I should be looking for. Could you possibly direct us a bit further? Thank you and blessings to you and yours…..Nancy
I so agree, I have a note next to me as I read your post. “Consecrate your tongue from evil or deceit. Put Your lips on the alter” Thank you for the reminder.
You have such a wonderful gift for teaching. Thank you for a beautiful truth to meditate on.
Amen!!
Have a Blessed Sunday.
Pam
I wish everyone would read this today! Words can hurt so very much! We all must guard our tongue.
Blessings
Hi Yvonne,
I have never heard that story either, but it certainly sounds like it could be used as a parable to me……………
I would like to find it for my lil darling too…………..I couldn’t agree more, it is so important to build each other
up cause there is just so much negativity in our world and so many unkind people as well.
My Mom used to say ” you can catch more flies with Honey than you can with Vinegar” and that is so true………….
Love your Sunday posts too, you just do a great job of everything…………God has really gifted you my friend.
Blessings, Nellie
Thank you for teaching us.
What great inspiration this Lord’s Day!!!
I love the illustrations in children’s books. What year was your copy printed? I looked for the book on Amazon and there are different printings. I’m not familiar with this book. I am in love with vintage book art. I would love to check it out.
thank you for the inspiration, I am printing this out to be a daily reminder, hopefully it will sink in…..
I recently signed on to your blog for inspiration – the worldly kind. Little did I know you had so much more “good stuff” to share. Thanks. Love opportunities to grow!!
Hi Yvonne! Thanks so much for your timely post. I tried as well to find the book “Rose Red and Rose White.” I could only find “Rose Red and Snow White!” Do you think that is the same book? Thanks so much.
I have not seen your post since Sunday. I did not realize how much I look forward to it every morning. It is the first thing I read before the newspaper. Hope you are on vacation and shopping . Please come back soon. I am having withdrawals .
Wise words to live by…….thank you for the reminder
Thank you so much, Yvonne, for this timely verse as tomorrow I am taking out a family member who can never seem to get through a get-together without saying nasty things about someone. I have often felt she must be heart-sad to do such things, and keep saying so to myself so as not to fall to her level and say something I’m sure I will regret. I wish I knew what to say to her whereby I won’t put her on the defensive or feel I am being self-righteous. We always dread the thought of having to endure her which makes me feel bad because try as I might, and pray about it, I just do not care for her. Tomorrow, I will keep repeating in my mind that she is a sad person and try my best to stay positive. If you have any suggestions on what I can say to let her know her comments hurt us and others I would be most appreciative.
I actually just read this fairy tale to my son not too long ago. You can find the story in the “Blue Fairy Book” by Andrew Lang. It is actually called “Toads and Diamonds” in that book. I think that there are several picture books with that name. There is also another fairy tale in there called “Snow White and Rose Red” that is lovely but definitely different from the story Yvonne mentioned. But, I would really love to know what picture book Yvonne is talking about since my children and I love picture books. So, please do share! 🙂
Thanks Lauren!It was a childhood book and I don’t have it anymore.