From Shame to Honour

From Shame to Honour

This is a “once upon a time” fairy tale like story, however it is true. Once upon a time a bouncing, baby girl was born and named Mary Elizabeth. Her Scottish parents adored her and her older sisters and brother, Patricia, Jane and John, hugged and kissed her. The family lived on a  picturesque island called Tasmania, south of the mainland of Australia. She grew as all little Australian girls grew, enjoying an outdoor lifestyle of sports, participating in the active games of basketball and hockey. She added the pleasures  of piano, flute and clarinet lessons to her already full and abundant life. Friends and family and happy activities filled her with the joys of a simple Australian life in the quiet city of Hobart. All too soon the young Mary blossomed into a beautiful, elegant lady and she entered university, and chose to study a Double degree in Commerce and Law. Soon the busyness of work and travel abroad filled her early adult life. 

Then came the year 2000. For every Australian that year was indelibly etched in our memories, for that was the year that Sydney held the Olympics. The fervour of excitement painted the city in a wash of vitality. Olympic fever was at an all time high, and there was a vibrancy of eager expectation as Olympians poured into the bustling city, along with international tourists, world leaders, royalty and Australians from around the country. One of those to journey to Australia was Frederik from Denmark, and although jet lagged, he allowed his Greek cousins to convince him to head out for a night on the town to meet some of the locals. They made their way to the old historic Slip Inn, and there he saw her. Frederik met Mary for the first time. 

It was love at first sight. Frederik described it this way, “If you had to visualise it, it was like a summer landscape in moonlight. Still water in a pond - evocative - there is a surface, but also depth. Harmony and tranquility and lots of kindness and beauty.” Frederick was smitten. However, Frederick was no ordinary  handsome young man from a Nordic country. He was the Crown Prince, heir apparent to the royal throne of Denmark. The Prince had fallen in  love with a commoner. It became a love story that all romantic fairy tales are made of. Three years later, in Rome, on bended knee, Prince Frederik proposed to his beloved Mary, presenting her with a stunning engagement ring featuring an emerald-cut diamond and two emerald-cut ruby baguettes.The noble Danish court announced that Queen Margrethe II  had given her consent. On May 4th, 2004, a regal wedding of dazzling splendour and pageantry took Mary Donaldson, a commoner, to the position of Crown Princess Mary, one day to become Queen Consort of Denmark.The hearts of Australians were filled with adoration for our honourable Princess and her Princely husband. We have joyed in the delights of the pitter patter of royal feet at Brockdorff's Palace in Copenhagen, as the births of Prince Christian, Princess Isabella and the young twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine add to their parent’s dream like story. Prince Frederik and Princess Mary continue to live happily ever after. 

A commoner becomes a princess. The ordinary becomes honoured. It isn’t just a fair tale like story. It is also the story of salvation. Our holy King takes us, the guilty and the shamed by sin, and invests us with honour in heavenly places. He is smitten, and He longs to bring us to palaces on high to reign with Him forever. Me, of lowly reputation, becomes the bride of my godly King. I am taken from the degradation of the sinner to the heights of distinction. Salvation, an exchange of my rags to the dignity of a garment of righteousness, through the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. We all warm to  a “happy ever after love story” because it is a reflection of the deepest yearnings of our own heart for a life and a love outside of this world of sin and shame. This story can be your story. This story can be mine. Will we say “I do”?

Isa 54:4,5 "Fear not, for you will not be put to shame; And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; But you will forget the shame of your youth.… For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth.”

Matt 22:2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.