My husband and I took our three boys, their wives and the six grandchildren to Disney World last winter. We had a wonderful time. We knew that this trip would be magical especially for Anna who was eight years old at the time. She is very much a girly girl but is rather shy. She loves fancy dresses and princess stories. She was so excited to attend the Disney World Princess Breakfast. This is an event where you eat breakfast in Cinderella’s Castle. While you are eating, the various Disney princess characters walk around and talk with the children. They let you take pictures with the princesses and they sign autographs.

Anna looked forward to this event more so than any other thing we had planned at Disney World. She was excited the morning of the breakfast but was nervous about talking to the characters. She dressed up in a beautiful Cinderella costume for the event. It took a lot of coaxing to get Anna to go up to Cinderella for her autograph. But after a lot of nervous tears, Cinderella saw that she was having a hard time so she came over and talked privately to Anna. She told Anna that she should not be nervous because she looked so beautiful. Cinderella told her that she was so impressed that Anna dressed up for the special occasion and that it was an honor to have her as a guest at her castle. She asked Anna if she could take her picture and asked if she would sign her book of favorite guests. Anna was so happy after that. She was so surprised that Cinderella wanted something from her. It calmed all her fears.

This spring, Anna made her First Holy Communion. The day started out well. Anna was excited to once again dress up like a princess in her beautiful communion dress. She put on her ornate veil and her long white gloves and her fancy pearl white shoes. She looked just like a princess.

But once again, Anna became nervous and the tears began to flow once she arrived at church. I sat her on my lap and reminded her of our trip to Disney World and what Cinderella told her. I told her that God feels the same way today on her First Holy Communion. She should not be nervous because she looks so beautiful and God is so impressed that she dressed up for this special event. And God is so happy that she has come to His church today.  He wants her to give her the body and blood of Christ and come into her heart.

That did it! Anna stopped crying and she began to smile. The stress of all her preparation and the anticipations of this day were relieved. She went up with her class and received her First Holy Communion. The day was a great success.