I have heard this particular story several times, and every time I hear it I am amazed.  Over the past week, I have been studying Esther's couragous and encouraging story. First of all she has bee
n chosen to take Vashti's place as Queen. She is chosen out of thousands of young women. She is given the royal treatment, and then she is faced with a difficult encounter.  Mordecai tells her Haman's plan, and she selflessly promises to save her people.  There is one small problem....She plans to tell the King of this malicious plan.  She tells the Jewish people to fast for three days, and at the end of the third day she will talk to the King.  I forgot to mention that talking to the King without permission is against the law, and this act usually ended in death. 

Yikes!     The thought of death didn't phase Esther.  In verse 16 of chapter 4 Esther basically states that she does not fear death.  "If I parish, I parish."  She is willing to die for her people.  She is willing to lay aside her royal treatment and her title to save her fellow people.  That definitely takes guts.  I think it would have been easier to say, "Ok..Mordecai.  Go find another person to help the Jewish people.  I am living it up in the palace, and I don't want to break my nails."  But what I love about this story is that Esther exemplifies beauty, courage, and most of all love.