For All the Baldies...

by Michael Fortson

Canyon Creek Church of Christ, Temple, Texas

Like most of you, I grew up with a full head of hair. I have had every conceivable hair style over the years, burr, flat top, duck tail, and even a curly Afro! I once decided to let it grow long enough for a pony tail. My wife can testify that   she actually got a rubber band around it.                    

These days, however, when I see a photo of myself from behind, I wonder who that bald guy is. My hair started thinning many years ago, and as time has gone on, it has become necessary for me to perfect the art of the comb-over. Once, while playing with my five year old grand-daughter Kenzie, my hair got really messed up, revealing how little I actually have on top. She stopped playing, startled at how little hair I had on top, became very serious and asked, "Papa, what happened to your hair?" I wonder, too, Kenzie. We live in a society that values hair and usually lots of it. Yet many of us find ourselves losing this "valuable" commodity day by day.

Meleah is the eleven year old daughter of my preaching friend Mike Jeffress in Chesapeake, Virginia. On January 14, 2008, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (cancer) in her right leg. Chemo therapy was begun right away, and today she is starting her fourth round. In addition to making her feel really nauseated and sick, all her beautiful hair has fallen out! Ironically, only a year ago Meleah generously donated her golden curls to Locks of Love to help those battling cancer! So that she won’t feel alone with all this, her dad, Mike, has shaved his head. It’s quite a picture of dad and daughter, both totally bald! It is a picture I cherish as I pray daily for Meleah’s recovery. She is and always will be beautiful, with hair or bald. Isn’t that the way God sees her too?

Well, for all of us non-hairy people in this hairy world, I have come up with the top ten reasons that bald is beautiful. Here they are:

1. Never having a "bad hair day"

2. Shampooing is a cinch
 

3. Saving money on hair products, hair stylists, and barber
 

4. Windy days don’t undo your do
 

5. Bald people are perceived as smarter (and they are!)
 

6. People can see and love the real you
 

7. You can’t get caught on a tree branch and left hanging
 

8. No more bubble gum or peanut butter in your hair
 

9. You are right in style with some famous people
 

10. Your head is a great place to leave a lip stick kiss 

We often refer to a woman’s hair as her "crown of glory." Isaiah 61:3 says that God is going to provide "a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning." What Meleah is going through is tough. It is a challenge and a trial. But God has a way of getting us through it, and out of the ashes, out of the mourning, he will bring gladness and a crown of beauty. I Peter 1:6 explains that "for a little while you may suffer grief and all kinds of trials," but we can rejoice because we have a living hope in Jesus Christ.

Will you join me in praying for Meleah, and for all the other girls and boys who are struggling with these tough diseases. You may want to encourage her in some way beyond prayer. I will be glad to forward your messages if you send them to me:

With God’s blessings, Meleah will be cured and her hair will grow back, rich and full and beautiful. My only hope, however, is that in heaven, with our new bodies, I’ll have one with hair! Until then, bald is beautiful!

Michael Fortson