LAKE OCONEE — Ever listen to Delilah on the radio?  She's on in the evening.  On the way back from my weekly sojourn to Atlanta my radio dial gets a good workout.  The dial stops regularly at Delilah.

The format of the program has people calling in to Delilah, telling their particular story and then asking her to play a special song dedicated to a special person. Illustrative of the callers would be:

1. A teenage girl with a mad crush on this boyfriend “who treats me so well”.

2. A wife who is missing her husband “serving in Iraq”.

3. A husband who “appreciates all the things my wife does for me and my family”.

4. A young man who's grandfather is sick and “I want him to know how much I value what he taught me”.

5. A parent who is “proud of my son” and wanted to express it through this media form.

6. A young adult who wanted to thank her parents “for being there for me and teaching me good values”.

7. A woman in a serious accident wanted to thank  the “angel of the night” paramedic who rescued her from near death.

The stories are spoken from sincere hearts such that even the most cynical person would be touched to hear such innocent love proclaimed. Delilah empathically responds appropriate to the unique story just told.  Then she plays the requested “love song”; sometimes she adds her own thoughtful words of sweetness.

The Delilah program is a refreshing oasis from talk radio vitriol, the Thrashers losing, or another country song speaking about how “busy” God is.  Schmaltzy, sappy, sentimental, sugar coated. Yes. And what's wrong with that?  The purity and innocence of the caring stories do touch the listener's heart - at least it does touch mine. 

     Perhaps all of us could do a better job to show our love, appreciation, and/or concern about another person that is in, or has touched, our life.  The method chosen is not as important as it is to have the message heard.  Is the loving gesture given and received?

Oftentimes I have heard people say to another, “I thought about you when…”  Nice, but did that person actually DO something to let the other know that s/he was thinking about him or her?

Good for Delilah callers who take the time to show their love and appreciation for another. They can inspire us to be more overt in expressing our own loving feelings.  And, Delilah, keep bringing to the airwaves this forum for such expression.  It is a feel good, often misty eyed, broadcast.

Perhaps we need more Delilah's in our culture! (P.S. not the Delilah of biblical infamy)             

— Dr. Stathas is a counseling psychologist, licensed marriage and family Therapist, in the Lake Oconee area. He is the founder of the Stathas Life Development Center. He can be reached at (706) 473-1780. E-mail: Stathas@plantationcable.net Web site: drstathas.googlepages.com.