My heart broke to bits as I learned about the death of our beloved Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history. The only monarch in my own lifetime, I grew to love her and think of her as a grandmother.
There are so many lessons we can learn from the life of Her Majesty and how she lived it. No matter what was happening in the world, the Queen was acutely aware of the situations and always knew exactly the right way to deal with them, appearing perfectly poised and unbiased. Her selfless dedication to her "job" is something that no one can fathom. We all look for recognition and expect back pats and high salaries for the work we do but, she gave her entire life to "work" that very few others (if any) could ever imagine let alone excel at. With dignity in every circumstance, Her Majesty, paid honour and tribute to the occasion, individual, and all those concerned. Through some of the most tumultuous times in history, the Queen, navigated the choppy waters of controversy and criticism with a grace that we could only ever dream of possessing.
Her compassion for her dogs and horses is unmatched and is evident in the thousands of photos over the years capturing her deep and abiding love of all creatures. From a tender age, the Queen developed a fierce love of dogs and horses that never waned.
As head of the Church of England, our Queen was devout in her Christian faith and to her Lord. In her 2014 Christmas message she said, "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."
"Each day 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.” Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II
Throughout the 7 decades of her reign, Queen Elizabeth II exemplified a style and sophistication to be envied. Her choices remained dignified and regal; even when she was just visiting the paddock in her wellies and kerchief.
While there will be those who oppose the Monarchy, no one can dispute the pure goodness of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Her integrity, courage, and deep and abiding love and respect for the people of this world in general, are gifts God bestowed on her.
"Poise, open-mindedness, selfless dedication, loyalty, compassion, courage, deep rooted faith, humility...there aren't enough words to describe the role model whom we should all look up to. If we can only embody half of the traits that made our Queen, in my mind, the greatest woman in the world, we'll each be a better person for it." ~P. Wright
A special, small corner of my heart, where my beloved parents are held dear, will now hold a memory of the greatest woman in history, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. May you rest in peace, Ma'am.
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