A Tooth Truth Experience

 

My understanding of God's gifts continue to grow.  I take for granted a lot of things.....little things they seem, but they're actually much bigger.  God created us with amazing human bodies that function for us without our even thinking about it.  As I age, and some of you can relate while the rest of you will eventually (😉), I come to appreciate more and more my health.  But there are times when things break down and need repaired like one of my bottom molars did recently.   Doc said I needed to get a crown to preserve it, but that I'd need to have it scaled down and have the decay removed first.  Yesterday ended up being longer in the dentist's chair than I'd predicted, and the drilling wasn't very comfortable at times even after Doc gave me three shots of novacaine.  Not her fault btw.  She kept giving me breaks (bless her) and encouraged me saying that it wouldn't be much longer, but that she had to finish the job and get all the decay out.  In fact,  she said it was the decayed parts only that was making me flinch a bit. 

Got me thinking about the decay in our emotional and spiritual lives.  No doubt.  It's there.  And it's broken and discolored and can cause us much pain later on if we don't take care of it. 
Many of us understand that Jesus heals the decay of our sinful nature.  But do we fully rely on Him to change us, to inspire us to give over that heavy load of whatever we carry on a daily basis?  Like the decay in my bottom molar,  we let our impatience and gossip and resentment and anger build till it tarnishes our living-for-Christ examples. 
People wonder sometimes about my "religion."  I'm not religious.  I'm not good (not even close).  I've got a heck of a lot more decay in my nature than what was in my tooth yesterday.  
But I do know Jesus.  I know Him as the Living Water and the Hope of my tomorrow.  

Eventually my health will fail again.  It's a little scary I know, but I do marvel at how God created our bodies (and how strong our natural teeth are).  Let it be a comfort to you that God is working in your life. And be obedient to His Word out of love for Him.  Pray for me (and my tooth!) and I'll pray for you that we put aside the decay in our nature and get closer to Jesus in our lives today. Oh!  And don't forget to brush twice a day and floss!  It really does matter!  Godspeed!