The first time I visited the UK was for an academic conference. I spent about a week in the UK and two months later I was back for another visit. The next year, I moved to the UK and for four years my family stayed in the country where both myself and husband ended up earning academic degrees. One of the things that fascinated me about the UK was the way the nation has sustained their monarchy and the influence of the royal family in the nation. Particularly, I admired Queen Elizabeth for her role in uniting and building the United Kingdom after World War II. She ascended to the throne when she was still young, but after reigning for 70 years and 214 days as the Queen of England, we can only admire her for her tenacity. What was the secret of the Queen’s sustenance even in the midst of wars, political chaos, family chaos, pandemics, etc.? To mark the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016, a booklet titled “The Servant Queen And The King She Serves” was published. I was thrilled after reading the book. The Queen trusted in God! You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3) Who you trust is very important to determine how far you can go! Being the Queen of England is not an easy job in our fast changing world. However, according to this book, “In all that change, the Queen’s faith has remained consistent. The Servant Queen explores and celebrates the place of Her Majesty’s Christian faith in the context of her formal role, public ceremony, her personal and family life, in times of celebration and in the face of adversity.” The life of Queen Elizabeth reminds me of Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” How can someone live a peaceful life in the midst of raging family, political, social and economic pressures? The answer is simple: those who trust in the Lord are kept in perfect peace. Today, the whole world celebrates the extraordinary life of a queen whose 70year reign transcends the lifetime of the average person. Death is a painful departure and no matter how old one lives, the world will still miss that person. Many of us live for the here and now not mindful of our impact in the light of eternity. As the world celebrates the extraordinary life of Queen Elizabeth, may we not forget that she trusted in God and in the midst of all the chaos around her, she still had the peace to reign for 70years. When we understand that trusting in God is not an alternative but the way to go, it affects our mindset and lifestyle. Remember, the world will keep changing but God remains the same. Who you trust shows how far you can go. As for me, I choose to trust in the Lord. As we celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s life, let us consider this quote from her: “For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate today, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life. A role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ’s example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people of whatever faith or none.” Source: The Servant Queen And The King She Serves. Excerpt of the Queen’s Christmas Message, 2014.
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