I have been contemplating a change in a saying on one of our coffee mugs (in which I have my morning tea). It reads, “I’m having a: (check the appropriate box) Good Hair day, Bad hair day”. I’d now add , “No hair day, Fake hair day”.

Yup, I am now among the chrome dome elite. Although here in California lots of men have their heads shaved, they are still a minority, and women of the sort…well, I haven’t seen any shiny domes lately, we tend to keep them discreetly covered, so I am among a very exclusive, small percentage of the population!

I got tired of dealing with gobs of hair falling out for 3 days, so on Saturday (May 31) I asked Randy to shave it off. He willingly, yet sadly, took the shaver and started buzzing it off. Our 5 year old granddaughter, Lourdes, held a plastic bag into which Grandpa dropped the handfuls of hair. After he started, I quickly suggested he do a mohawk and take a picture before it was all gone, which he did, and I posed with Lourdes and Emmanuel (2 years). What a shot for posterity! Hopefully, that will be a once in a lifetime event!

Hair truly is a woman’s glory and Randy always loved my hair long, which I tried to keep for many years. So he was sad when he shaved it off, but he was prepared from day one to join with me, identifying with me in my suffering and indignities by having his head shaved back in January. It is a touching and deeply significant statement of love when a husband (or wife) chooses to personally sacrifice in some way to identify with or serve their suffering spouse. My life has been graced with such a husband. His acceptance of and love for me is in great part responsible for my ability to laugh in the face of these indignities. Now I can joke that, instead of dressing alike, as do some older couples (hey, not that old!), we go bald alike!

What a gift from God is humor, the ability to see the funny side of things, to laugh at oneself, to see distressing life circumstances in a different light, and to some degree “make light” of them, putting them into perspective. We can do that because we have developed a perspective on life which has been shaped and honed over the years by the influence of God’s perspective on life. As a result we have more important issues to deal with in life. We have bigger things to live for, more lasting than our little lives. We, therefore, can “get on with our lives” in the midst of flux, fear and pain.

Losing my hair and suffering other body disfigurements has been fairly easy for me to handle, though by no means pleasant. I attribute this to my relationship with my God and my relationship with my husband. I absolutely do take comfort in the fact that my hair will grow back. I am overwhelmingly grateful for the commitment and love of my husband. All of us struggle with these things differently yet I have heard many testify to God’s goodness in the midst of suffering and fear, his faithfulness to be “the God who is with us”, and who delivers.

People tell me I am strong. I disagree. I am not strong; I just know the One who is and run with all my little strength to Him. The only safe place to “fall apart” when tragedy strikes is nestled on the lap of our Father in heaven.

So now I wear various hear coverings around the house and out of the house. I do have a wig as well, and Randy took me to Macy’s for a makeup session so now I am wearing makeup for the first time in over 35 years! I have been practicing brushing in my eyebrows while they are still there so I can get it right when they are not. I’ve added earrings again too. Now I remind myself of my sweet southern belle girlfriends! But I still don’t wear bows on my shoes. Love y’all!

Randy and I leave Saturday for our 35^th wedding anniversary getaway in San Diego, one of southern California’s most beautiful cities. ‘Tis a lovely gift…with a view of the bay. We will visit a dear friend, former co-worker and current supporter in Encinitas on the way down. He is one who knows suffering from the side of the faithful, loving spouse, as 2 years ago he had to let go to God the love of his life of 57 years. He is abiding “on the lap” of his Father. God has given us the privilege of knowing and having as role models of service and faith some of his best kids. We count it a deep privilege.

Upon our return to Colton, we prepare for Randy’s return to West Virginia and what awaits him there as he once again takes up the reins of leadership responsibilities on-site. God has been so good to let us be together during these last 5 months. Now we face new challenges and continue to pray for long-standing needs to be met within Mustard Seeds. Come what may our hearts are set to serve and love the King with all our strength. We pray he will allow us to serve him in ever greater ways in years to come.

Jacque