Fifteen years ago, my first daughter was born. She was our pride and joy, our very own “princess.” But eleven years ago, God placed another Princess into my heart and my life in a way I never expected.
She wasn’t my first daughter, or my second, or even my third. She was a tiny, almost four-year-old girl from the Philippines, and her name was Princess.
One day, while listening to the radio, I heard about a program through Compassion International that was helping children in need. They talked about how sponsorship could provide food, education, and the opportunity to learn about Jesus. It sounded like such a meaningful way to make a difference. I don’t remember spending much time praying about the decision—I simply felt led to act. I thought it would be good for my own daughters, who were two and four at the time, to learn compassion and become aware of the needs of others.
I had no idea then that eleven years later, we would still be sponsoring that little girl and watching her grow into a beautiful young lady. The very first photo I received showed a frightened, sad toddler. For several years after that, each picture still carried the same quiet sadness in her eyes, and it stayed with me.
Because Princess was so young, her mother, Mely, wrote letters on her behalf. I would write back, and I always looked forward to those envelopes arriving in the mail from Compassion. Each letter shared updates about their life and always included prayers—Mely faithfully prayed for God to bless me and my family, every single time.
As the years went by, Princess began writing the letters herself. She loved hearing about Cassie, Kinley, Riley, and Camden. She asked about their favorite subjects in school, the sports they enjoyed, and the little details that made our family feel real to her. And just like her mother, she never failed to include that she was praying for us and thanking God for our family.
On October 1, 2016, Princess wrote my favorite letter of all. She shared that she had learned about Jesus and had accepted Him as her Lord and Savior. I remember the joy I felt reading those words. My greatest prayer for her had been answered, and it was a moment I will never forget.
Princess will be fifteen this August. Now, every picture I receive shows a bright smile. Every message is filled with joy. She is so much like my own children—she loves the same music, enjoys sports, and is especially talented at running. This year, she asked for basketball shoes and a basketball for her birthday, and we were able to make that wish come true. She dreams of becoming a nurse someday, and watching her grow into the person God created her to be fills my heart with gratitude.
I often wonder where Princess might be today if we hadn’t sponsored her eleven years ago. And honestly, I wonder where my family would be, too. The financial support matters, but the prayers are priceless. Knowing that a family across the world prays daily for me, my husband, and my children is something money could never buy. I am forever thankful for their prayers.
I believe with all my heart that the prayers of Mely, Princess, and their family have brought protection, health, and blessings into our lives.
Compassion has been an investment—not only in Princess’s life, but in our family as well. Eleven years ago, we had no idea what this sponsorship would grow into. Now we know it is filled with the things that truly matter most: family, joy, and love.
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.”
—Proverbs 19:17
