“Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” ~ 1 Peter 4:10-11
“Mirror, let thy burnish’d face, give me instant here to trace, the fairest maid of Brabant’s race.” ~ Richilda[1]
Richilda mourned her mother’s death deeply for about a year. After that time, she began to be restless, and started making a habit of visiting the parlor where men could visit their womenfolk in the convent. These young men paid a great deal of attention to Richilda, and it was here “the original germs of vanity” took root.[2]
Richilda soon left the convent, found a suitable matron to be her chaperon, and “established her court.”[3] A wealthy heiress will of course attract attention; but a wealthy and beautiful heiress will attract the attention of the world. So it happened that Richilda’s court “seemed a fairy castle,” with knights from across the lands.[4]
Richilda’s Choice in Using her Gifts
Richilda soaked up the praise…but knew enough to be suspicious. Thus, after deliberating a great while, she asked the fateful question of her mirror: who was the fairest? It answered by showing her own image, unchanged.
Now, to ask the mirror if everyone is telling you the truth is not a bad thing; it would be the right way to use this gift. However, Richilda chose to use the information for her own glory. From that point on, Richilda “became proud and arrogant,”[5] and demanded to be seen as the most beautiful woman, not only in her time, but in all of history.
She tormented her suitors with her beauty and the refusal of her love. It does not say how long this glittering court of vanity carried on; however, Richilda’s chaperon knew it could not be sustained. She therefore publicly suggested that Richilda chose a suitor in three days’ time. All the men agreed, and Richilda had to choose.
On the day she had to decide, Richilda asked this question of her mirror: “Mirror, let thy burnish’d face, give me instant here to trace, the fairest youth of Brabant’s race.”[6]
Now, keep in mind, to ask the mirror whom she should marry would have been a good thing; but her question revolved around looks. Once more, Richilda was using the mirror to support her own glory.
Our Choice in Using our Gifts
Richilda had been blessed with two wonderful gifts: the gifts of beauty and the secret mirror. She had a choice on how to use them: either for the good of others, or for her own glory.
But what if she’d used her unique gifts of beauty and the mirror to glorify God, as Peter exhorted?
Out of His lavish love, God gave each of us unique gifts – gifts as unique and special as Richilda’s mirror. He longs for us to use them for His glory, which means to put Him first and show others His love by serving them.
This can easily slide into a works-based blog. Please don’t see it as such. If your passion is swimming, how can you swim for God’s glory and to serve others? If you like coding, how can you code for God’s glory and to serve others? If you like gardening, how can you garden for God’s glory and to serve others?
I could go on and on.
Consequences
God abundantly loves you. He longs for you to use your gifts and to enjoy them. But how can you use those gifts for His glory and to serve others?
As for Richilda, her choice was made: she would use her gifts, both her beauty and her mirror, for her own glory. Therefore, the mirror showed her rightly the most handsome man in Brabant.
The mirror rightly showed the man of her request; but had she asked for whom she should wed, it would not have pictured him. For the fairest man in Brabant was already married…
Sources
[1] Heiner, “Richilda,” Sleeping Beauties, 71.
[2] Ibid., 70.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid., 71.
[6] Ibid., 74.
