R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Thoughts

"Buy one terrific piece of jewelry and remind yourself that you don't need a man for this. Why not make it an annual ritual, buying yourself one choice bauble on your birthday or Valentine's Day each year."
From 'The Rebound Journal'
I bought two pieces of jewelry for myself when I was going through my divorce. I am wearing both of them right this minute. The first piece I bought was while my ex-husband and I were separated, and I knew he was seeing someone else ... though he sometimes said he wasn't. I was at the Plaza Art Fair in Kansas City, and I came to a booth of jewelry from a woman called LuLu from Seattle I think. I love her work ... sort of earthy and contemporary. One group of her rings grabbed my attention immediately. Each was a wide silver band with a circle of silver sitting on the top each filled with a different color of resin... and in the middle of that flat circle was a little black ball of some semi-precious stone. But it was her description of the rings that made them so appealing. She said, those are my "secret decoder rings," AND she laughed, "if you make a fist with your hand with it on and point it outwards, you can put a hex on someone without them even knowing!" I bought it immediately and I get comments on it still. I love my secret decoder ring and it's "special abilities!" Then the day of my divorce, I went to a little jewelry store and bought a single thin flat band of silver that squeezes tighter on your wrist if you want. Very simple. But it was a symbol of new life to me. I cried a little when I got out to the car with it, but I put it on as a reminder that I was starting on a new journey. That from now on my life would be different. And that bracelet somehow reassured me that it could eventually be beautiful.

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share."
I Timothy 6:17-18