The Persian king was angry and told his queen to "Go!"
For when he'd called her to him, she'd turned and answered, "No!"
Soon many fair young women were summoned to the throne.
Young Esther was among them; her life was not her own.

Now Esther had no power, no strength on which to stand,
For she was just an orphan within a foreign land.
But soon her life was changing; the king loved her the best.
Could she become a blessing, as she herself was blessed?

She had a loving mentor, her uncle Mordecai;
But Haman did not like him and wanted him to die.
So Haman, full of anger, convinced the king to say
The Jewish folk among them would all be killed one day.

In Esther's new position, she wondered what to do.
She longed to save her people, to save her uncle, too.
"See!" Mordecai said plainly, "You have to take a risk.
Perhaps you have been chosen for such a time as this!"

Queen Esther saved her people by doing what was hard.
She risked her life to help them; she played the winning card.
O God, may we, like Esther, see what we're called to do —
Then live with faith and courage to change the world for you.