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

Good morning all,

First of all I want to apologize for not getting a blog posted yesterday. I could tell you all the things that came flying at me yesterday, but I will spare you. (By the way, I really miss corresponding with you every morning. I picture you in my head and in my heart and I connect whether you can feel it or not. I pray that you can find some kind of encouragement or just fun every day.) Anyway, today is another completely jammed packed day, so I have decided just to send you Day 45 of Dana Hood’s Book called I Will Change Your Name: Messages from the Father to a Heart Broken by Divorce. It’s a wonderful book and she was much more “grace –full” getting through her divorce than I was. I’m sure of that. Here is her entry for Day 45:

For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. Psalm 149:4

I finally did it. After having my gray hair pointed out to me one too many times, I colored my hair. My nineteen-year-old niece told me it would change my life. So far the biggest change I can see is that every five weeks I have to go back and do it again! My new life as a blond has simply been more expensive.

Don’t get me wrong. I do like the way my hair looks and I enjoy the compliments I have received. It has given me a nice little boost. But it has not changed my life – at least not in ways that really matter.

After years of trying to please my husband, wanting him to find me beautiful, he left. That rejection made me feel unworthy, unwanted, and unloved. I was definitely what you would call an “afflicted one.”

Then, I read words like these and my broken heart was touched in ways I cannot describe. The God of the universe takes pleasure in me. Can that be true? He rejoices over me. He ‘Beautifies me with salvation.” Try buying that at your local hair salon.

Father, help me rest in knowing that true beauty comes from you. Give me eyes to see that beauty in others.


Didn’t you identify with that? Isn’t that encouraging? If you want me to send you a copy of Dana’s book, just e-mail me at suzysuccess@kc.rr.com or call me at 816-941-4911 (I'll be here after noon CST) and let me know. I can take your order over the internet or the phone or you can send me a check for $15 and I will send you the book. It’s a great little book from someone who knows how it feels to be broken by divorce, but who also finds comfort in God who, as she says, continually “reminds me of my true identity.”