My dad built a play house in his backyard for all the grandchildren, complete with a climbing ladder, a rock wall and a swing set. Last week Mylee and I were playing outside and she climbed to the second story of the play house. She stood next to the window, pulled her hair over her shoulder and pretended that it was hanging out of the window and said, “I am Rapunzel and this is my castle.” I made the mistake of shouting, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down Your Long Hair!” The rest of the day turned into a real live fairy tale. Anyone who dared enter her “castle” was dubbed as the monster and chased out promptly. She defended her castle with all of her might. I had to call her Rapunzel and if I slipped up and called, “Mylee”, she quickly reminded me that she was NOT Mylee, she was Rapunzel!
Well, being the very cool Nene that I am, I got my little Grand Princess some Rapunzel hair, a little braided head band with long blonde hair attached to it. Now she has REAL Rapunzel hair to throw over her shoulder and hang out the window. It is so fun to pretend with her and watch her get into character. God can speak to us through many things. Last week He happened to speak to me through hair. A friend of mine from church, Kathy, began chemo treatments yesterday. Friday she cut her very own Rapunzel hair. I don’t even begin to understand the emotions Kathy must have felt as she courageously decided to cut her hair and donate it prior to loosing it due to the chemo. As I was praying for her, this scripture came to mind, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-30.
I was overwhelmed with the Father’s love for Kathy, and for me. I felt so known. So cared for. He knows how many hairs are on my head. And I have ALOT of hair! I don’t understand cancer. I don’t understand pain and suffering. But His Word tells me that He cares about hair. HAIR! The creator of the universe cares about HAIR!!! MY hair! Kathy’s hair! Even Mylee’s, uh-hmm, excuse me, Rapunzel’s hair! And that’s the reason that He gives when telling me not to be afraid. The very hairs on my head are all numbered, so don’t be afraid. I want to learn to find comfort in that.
In the meantime, if you see me and think to yourself, “What in the world is going on with Janine’s hair? It is a complete mess!", just know that God is teaching me not to be afraid. I’m also letting it grow longer so that I can donate it. Can you just imagine how many wigs this hair will make?
