Brave Queen Esther
With great courage, Queen Esther goes before the king to protect her people. She speaks up for good at just the right time.
Esther Becomes Queen
Esther was a beautiful and kind-hearted young woman. Unexpectedly, she became the queen of a country. In the palace there were lovely clothes, sweet foods, and gentle servants. Esther had become a beautiful queen, but she had not been carried away by show; her heart was still soft and good. She always remembered her own people, the people she loved, and never forgot her bond with them. Even amid the sparkle of the palace, she knew where she came from and who she was. Perhaps that was the loveliest thing about her: the fine clothes had not changed her or made her proud. Esther was kind-hearted and thoughtful; she listened to others and thought about what was right. But Esther had a secret: she had not told everyone that she came from her own people, the people she loved.
A Brave Decision
One day a wicked plan came to light. A man named Haman, who served in the palace, wanted to harm Esther's people. When Esther heard this, she was very sad. Wise Mordecai, who was dear to her, said to her: “Perhaps you became queen for exactly this moment. Only you can help your people.”
But there was a problem. In those days it was very dangerous to go before the king without being called. Esther was afraid. Still, she gathered her heart. First she prayed and thought for three days. Then she put on her finest queen's robe, took a deep breath, and walked toward the king's great hall.
Before the King
When the king saw Esther, he smiled and held out his golden scepter, inviting her to come near — which meant, “Welcome, I am listening to you.” Esther felt relieved. She invited the king to a feast and waited for just the right moment. Then she spoke bravely: “My king, please protect my life and the life of my people. A wicked plan is putting us in danger.”
The Courage That Saved a People
The king listened to Esther's words and protected her people. The wicked plan was undone, and everyone was saved. Esther's courage kept all the people she loved safe.
Esther's story shows us this: sometimes it takes courage to say the right thing. It is normal to feel afraid. But like Esther, if we pray and gather our hearts, we can speak up at just the right moment to do good for others. Sometimes one person's courage can help many people.
Talk about the story
Esther was brave in order to help others. When did you show courage to help someone?