13 contestants. 1 crown. More than 2 months of preparation. 1 Designer. Mother of all festivals. 60th Anniversary. First time sponsor. First beauty pageant. Uncharted platform.

God.

It was the final night, I had made it through to the top 5, I had answered my final question and then we were told to take our seats as they tallied the final results. Smiles & hugs, backstage conversations & general talk. It was anybody’s game. So why was I so calm? Why didn’t I necessarily care if my name was called as the Hibiscus queen or not? Why was I not afraid?

Because regardless of what they said, I had God. Regardless of whether or not I was going to win, I was going to be okay, I had done my best & He had me. At least that’s what I was banking on since He said He’d never leave or forsake me. So we went back on stage. 5 incredible pageant sisters, confident, smart young women & I was grateful to stand with them.

Then we were down to the last two contestants. There I stood, hand in hand with my fellow pageant sister and soon to be co-counsel….and then………….they said my name?

Was I really the 2016 Hibiscus Queen?

It was surreal! There was nothing I could do but laugh & smile because it was too good. He did it! He kept me and didn’t put me to shame.

The Prince of Peace, son of the living God died for me..and for you..so that we’d know that even before we were born we were loved, we were accepted, we were his before we were our mothers. I didn’t need that crown but he gave it anyway and with it comes an opportunity to share this…

The Hibiscus festival might be worldly to some “Christian” eyes but if I call myself a Christian and limit myself to only shining my light in the Church or when I’m surrounded by fellow brothers & sisters in the faith, then what good is that light to those who don’t know about it?

What good is it to have hope if we can’t share it with the hopeless?

What good is it to have peace that surpasses all understanding if we can’t offer an invitation for that peace to those whose minds are frantically trying to get through the day just to reach another A+ or another pay check?

What good is it to know our identity if we can’t converse with others who just want to know that they are accepted for exactly who they are, nothing more or nothing less?

What good is it to have my facebook/twitter/instagram read that I’m a Christian if my actions don’t depict it or my words don’t express it?

See, I applied to be a Hibiscus Queen contestant not only for a different experience of the festival

but

I applied because faith without action means nothing

I applied because saying I’m a Christian without actually being like one among everyone, nonbelievers & believers alike is hypocritical

and I applied because at the end of the day God is in everything, worldly or not, this all belongs to Him so regardless of what happens, God is good & He alone is God!

13 contestants. 1 Queen. Only God.