Any parent out there with elementary age children can probably relate - children losing teeth can be both an exciting and patience testing time.
My middle daughter’s front tooth had been loose the past two months. She had only lost her first tooth (bottom) the beginning of summer. The wiggling and loosening of the tooth is somewhat new to her. Eating meals poses a challenge every day.
As we encouraged her to wiggle the front wiggly tooth to the front, back, side, side, twist and twist she tried only some of the times and often with great apprehension and dramatic sound affects. (Man I need to remember to get my kiddos into acting- they really seem to have a knack for it. (Hehe))
This past week we shared that we were planning to attend the great Minnesota Get-Together (the MN State Fair). Our girls shreaked with excitement and then reality set in for my middle daughter- no fresh corn on the cob for her unless that tooth was gone. And she LOVES corn on the cob.
Cue her cheerleader sisters each mealtime- cheering and chanting for their sister to wiggle and pull out that darn wiggly tooth. It was hanging on for dear life, and the attempts to wiggle and twist and pull were now filled with even more dramatic arm movements, facial expressions, and even louder sound affects. This tooth was going to hang by a thread for dear life.
As my husband sat the girls down for dinner Thursday evening, he noticed our daughter missing her front tooth. He inquired and my middle daughter was surprised herself. “I must have swallowed it eating” she said. Then she walked around the dining room and living room hunting for her tooth. At last, she found her shiny white tooth in the floor. It had fallen out itself. We all joked, sounds like the tooth was ready to fall out all by itself. At last- it had fallen out and the fear of no corn on the cob subsided. You can bet that first bite of corn on the cob at the fair was glorious!!
This story had me thinking- as adults what do we leave hanging by a thread? What situations or events are we “pretending” to address but are really just prolonging our own pain and suffering? What fears or shortcomings do we have ourselves that we are we trying to overshadow with drama, excuses, or sheer avoidance?
And do we have good friends who can call us out on some of this? Help us see those blindspots where maybe we do deserve an academy award for best actor or actress? Friends to help us get in touch with reality, the truth, and lovingly guide us and cheer us back on to the path we should be on.
In the Bible 2 Corinthians 12:9 says: “My grace is all you need, for my power is the greatest when you are weak.” I think in order for us to accept and experience much of God’s grace and power, we have to take a deep breath and take a good hard look at our own actions, defenses, biases, and walls we’ve put up. We need to become more humble, more ready to learn, and set aside our pride, guilt, and shame.
That’s hard to do alone. But with a friend or group of friends, mountains can literally be moved and eternities changed forever! We weren't created to do this life alone. Whether it's the highest of highs or lowest of lows, I pray for you friend, that God would place amazing and life-giving friends in your path. That they would bring truth and life and healing into your world and those closest to you.
“You mend what once was shattered
And You turn my tears to laughter
Your forgiveness is my fortress
Oh, Your mercy is relentless
My help comes from You
You're right here, pulling me through
You carry my weakness, my sickness, my brokenness
All on Your shoulders
Your shoulders”
-Shoulders by For King and Country