Today I have decided 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. ” Dana Hood
Didn’t you identify with that? Isn’t that encouraging? If you want to order a copy of Dana’s book, go to amazon.com or go directly to www.leafwoodpublishers.com or call toll-free 877-816-4455. 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.”
Dear Suzy,
I’v never had the money to join your radical support group, but your posts have been just a blessing for me.
I was married for almost 43 years, when my husband decided he’d trade me in on a newer model.
It just about did me in, but I kept just getting up everyday and reading your posts, went to a divorce support group at a church and just kept on crawling up out of the dark hole. I still have some bad days, but now after 4 years, I know I will survive and I’ve worked very hard to find new friends and be positive.
Your words of encouragement along with your feelings, and reactions to the divorce, the hurt, the pain,
the lack of self worth, etc., made me feel I wasnt alone.
Thank you so very much for your kind and encouraging words to all of us who are struggling with not
only being rejected, but being rejected during midlife.
Thank you again,
Sincerely, Laura