My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous! – insatiable for your nourishing commands. -Psalm 119:20 (msg)

Nourishing commands. It’s not something we readily embrace – that a command could be welcomed let alone nourishing… and then to be starving for nourishing commands! …perhaps the nourishing command:

“Nobody can be a real princess – do not imagine you have been anything more than a mock one – until she is a princess over herself, that is, until, when she finds herself unwilling to do the thing that is right, she makes herself do it. So long as any mood she is in makes her do the thing she will be sorry for when that mood is over, she is a slave, and no princess. A princess is able to do what is right even should she unhappily be in a mood that would make another unable to do it. For instance, if you should be cross and angry, you are not a whit the less bound to be just, yes, kind even – a thing most difficult in such a mood – though ease itself in a good mood, loving and sweet. Whoever does what she is bound to do, be she the dirtiest little girl in the street, is a princess, worshipful, honorable. Nay, more; her might goes farther than she could send it, for if she act so, the evil mood will wither and die, and leave her loving and clean.” …

“Couldn’t you help me?”

“Perhaps I could, now you ask me.”…

“I am very tired of myself, but I can’t rest till I try again.”

“That is the only way to get rid of your weary, shadowy self, and find your true self. Come, my child; I will help you all I can, for now I can help you.”

-George MacDonald, The Wise Woman