When I was in elementary school, I went through a "phase" where I simply did not want to go to school.  I decided that it would be so much more fun to stay at home and just play out in my play house all day.  In my young mind, I thought this was a great idea and could see nothing wrong with my plan. 

Unfortunately, my parents and teacher had other ideas.  For some reason they thought that it was more important for me to be in school.  No amount of pleading or arguing seemed to sway their belief. 

Then it came to me.  If I was sick, they wouldn't force me to go.  After all, sick children needed to be at home.  Now, I hadn't quite figured out how I could stay home "sick" and still be allowed to play outdoors.  So, until I came up with such a scheme, I would be content to stay in the house, on the couch, in front of (you guessed it), the television set! 

It was through that experience that I discovered the program of all programs: Queen for a Day!  I don't recall the emcee's name, but in my mind I can still picture him.  Every day some hopeful, screaming woman would be called from the audience to the stage and was showered with gifts like I had never imagined before - washing machines and dryers, dining room sets, dishes, dish washers...the list went on and on.  But what I could hardly wait for was when the "grateful-to-her-dying-day/sobbing" woman was escorted to her throne!  Now there was a queen if I had ever seen one!

Of course, all fairy tales come to an end, and my "sick" leave was exposed for what it was - a sham - and back to school I went.  But I still think of those days at home with my mom, snuggled up on the couch, dreaming of someday being a queen seated on my throne.

That's probably one of the reasons I have always enjoyed the account of Esther in the Bible.  One of the first things we find out about Esther is that she didn't start out as a "queen."  In fact, she didn't even start out as "Esther!"  Her Jewish birth name was Hadassah.  She was an orphan, taken in and raised by her relation, Mordecai, who obviously held some kind of position in the royal palace.

According to the Scriptures, King Ahasuerus had given a banquet for all his princes, officers, and nobles.  Unlike what we think of as a party today, his banquet lasted for seven days.  Wanting to impress his guests, the king summoned his wife, Queen Vashti, to appear before him and his visitors.  To make a long story short, she refused and the king, wanting to save face in front of his guests, banished her from ever appearing before him again.

As with all hasty actions, King Ahasuerus began to regret his command, but once he issued an edict, it could not be rescinded.  Those closest to him suggested that he send out a decree, calling for every beautiful young virgin in his kingdom to come to his capital city so that the king might find one to replace his former queen.

As always, God already had everything in place, and Esther was one of the young girls sent to the palace.  (You need to read this wonderful book of the Bible for yourself.)  Esther becomes a favorite of the king, and uncovering a plot to kill her people, at great peril to her own life goes before the king and requests that he save her people from certain annihilation.

What has always stuck me when reading this account is Esther's willingness to do what was asked of her.  Did you know that according to tradition, she could have been as young as 14 when she went into the king's harem?  Like me not wanting to go to school, I've often wondered if she inwardly wanted to devised some sort of plan where she too could stay at home.

But, praise God, she obeyed and as Mordecai told her, "Who knows that whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?"  (Esther 4:14)

Maybe you and I haven't been called to go to a palace and gain favor with an earthly king, but you and I have been called to go into the presence of our heavenly Father, where we are immediately received and our requests are heard and granted.

Maybe you and I aren't going to sit on a throne and receive washing machines and blenders, but in God's eyes, we are Queens.  And we're Queens for "more than a Day!"  We're Queens here and now, and for eternity.  And, like Esther, yes, we have attained royalty for such a time as this.

Are you willing to do what is asked of you?