The Magic of a Good Pair of Shoes

Last weekend my dear London friend Amanda and I were strolling through the gateway mall a few hours before our dear London friend Sarah's wedding reception.

Thrifting beforehand. In this story, the shoes were present.
The coat was not.

Instant Replay:
4 year-old girl points in my direction. I turn around to see what she's so excited about.

"Look mom! It's a princess!"

Before I could process those words she had latched herself to my legs and buried her face in my skirt.

I was charmed speechless.

I tried to lean down, hug her back, and tell her how pretty her dress was or something. Her mom- kind of embarrassed, kind of loving it- politely tried to pull her away.

"No, Mom- it's a real princess!"

In that moment I took back every unkind thought I had ever had while babysitting young children.
And I thanked the Lord that I had bought sparkly gold TOMS and not the red ones.


Dear Mother of the Princess-Spotter,
                    You are doing a great job raising your daughter.

Please continue to encourage her to see potential and beauty in the ordinary- or even the mundane and unseemly. Thank you for nourishing her imagination and confidence, and for letting her believe in happily-ever-afters. Thank you for taking the time that morning to curl her hair and pin it back with a bow. We could use a few more princesses like her in this world. And she can hold on to my legs for as long as she likes. Anytime.

                      Love,
                     Lauren