The Queen

Queen Elizabeth II
04/21/1926 – 09/08/2022
 
What can I say that hasn’t already been said about Queen Elizabeth II?  My intent is really to be one of many to honor a life well lived. This phrase; a life well lived encompasses so much more than material possession.  If we just look at the Queen Elizabeth’s life based on possessions, we would do a disservice to her entire life and all that her life entailed. Some would describe her as a woman of position, power, possessions and privilege but lets keep those 4 P’s in context.  Queen Elizabeth was born into this position, which passed to her upon the death of her father.  Actually, her uncle, King Edward VIII abdicated his role as King to marry an American woman who was divorced and Queen Elizabeth’s father became King George VI.   Queen Elizabeth was the eldest child with no brothers but a younger sister to her father. By law, Queen Elizabeth was heiress to the throne. The Word of God addresses possessions in Luke 12:15.  “Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”  So setting aside the abundance of her possessions, let’s talk about what her life really did consist of and how she was able to handle the role of Queen for 70 years.

When I think of Queen Elizabeth, I think of some wonderful descriptive words.  She was a servant to her people.  That may seem strange since she was a Queen but she embraced a role of servant hood to the people she represented, working on their behalf. The Queen was a woman of integrity, fortitude, wisdom, grace, and kindness with an unbelievable responsibility to her kingdom and people. Those are just a few words to depict a woman of honor.  A woman whose life was well lived in the path that was laid before her.
 
The day of her death, Anne Graham Lotz posted an exert from a book given to her parents by Queen Elizabeth’s pastor called The Servant Queen and the King she serves. The exert page of the book contained a statement by Queen Elizabeth.
 
“I know just how much I rely on my faith to guide me through the good time and the bad. Each day it is a new beginning. I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God…I draw strength from the message of hope in the Christian Gospel.”
 
None of us have ever walked in Queen Elizabeth’s 2.5 inch heeled shoes because we have our own. However, there are some treasures in her statement that we can value as she did in her life. This is the core of how her life was well lived.
 

1. The Queen relied on her faith to guide her.
2. The Queen needed that faith to guide her through the good and bad times.
3. Each day was a new beginning. 
4. For the Queen, the only way to live was to try to do what was right,
5.  She chose to “take the long view” ( I take that to mean not just momentarily thinking but future thinking and view)
6. To give of her best in all that the day brings,
7. To put her trust in God.
8. Draw strength from the message of hope in the Christian Gospel.

 
A life well lived is a life anchored in faith in Jesus Christ, trust in Father God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 5:6-10 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  We draw our faith and guidance from God.”
 
Externally looking, it’s easy to not see the challenging or “bad” times she encountered in her life, but they were there.  Good times such as marriage, children, grandchildren, special events but difficult times of family conflict, divorce, estrangement, criticism, judgment etc. equally consumed her life. Her faith, our faith in God gets us through those deep dark days. 
 
Queen Elizabeth recognized that each day was a new beginning. Lamentations 3:22-23 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. We too can walk into each morning with a new beginning.”
 
For Queen Elizabeth, each day was an opportunity to do what was right to do, with a “long view”, and doing her best in what she faced each day.  Let us seize the opportunity to do our best in whatever God brings to us each day. Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
 
And finally, Queen Elizabeth put her trust in God, not herself and drew strength from the message of hope in the Christian Gospel.  That Gospel means “good new” which is the salvation message of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 5:10 "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
 
Let us take some notes from this page in the life of Queen Elizabeth’s story, so we too can have a life well lived. In keeping with British style, chin up, keep a stiff upper lip, keep calm and carry on.  Let’s make the adjustments now.
Blessings,
Karen.