Dear Pastor,

I could not believe that you would tell a 16-year-old that it is ok to do plastic surgery on her nose because people have been making fun of her. There is no reason for her to have her nose 'fixed'. Everything she has is perfect the way they were made. If someone had told her that her head was too big, would you have told her to cut it off or have it fixed? I just cannot believe that you would tell a teenager that it was ok for her to go have plastic surgery and to have her father help pay for it.

Pastor, I have a nine-year-old daughter and it would hurt me very much if when she is a teenager someone told her that it is ok to go have plastic surgery to 'fix' something like her nose. If it is something that is bothering her physically, like a big wart on her face, that would be different. But the nose that God put on her face is quite all right for that face.

Girl, if you read this, hold your head high and try to ignore those who make fun of you, or tell them that what they say hurt your feelings and you would appreciate it if they did not speak that way about you. But leave your nose alone. Take Michael Jackson as a living example. Have you seen his nose lately? Not likely because he no longer has one!

P.B., Ontario, Canada

Dear P.B.,

You have said your piece and you are free to disagree with me but evidently, you did not read with understanding the girl's letter. If you had, you would not respond in the manner in which you did. My answer was not frivolously given. I considered her matter carefully and answered it according to its merit. You are just making blanket statements and that is not good counselling.

Why bring Michael Jackson into this matter? That is poor taste and you shouldn't do that. Shame on you. Michael has suffered enough and I don't consider what you have said to be funny. Shame on you.

Thank God for plastic surgery. There are people who need it and should do it. It has its place. It has helped many. Don't ignorantly condemn it.

Pastor