I had to go back to the endodontist yesterday. When I had gone there a few weeks ago (has it really been that long?) he opened up the tooth that was hurting and cleaned out the abscess, then covered it up with a temporary filling. After giving me a prescription to take for the infection, I scheduled a date to come back so that he could look at it again. To make sure the infection was all gone. Yesterday was that day.
He was sneaky. I appreciate that. I always overstress about going to the dentist - and to the endodontist. I had very bad experiences when I was growing up and I have always been terrified to go. I've gotten better over the years, but I can remember years of NOT going to the dentist, to when a toothache forced me to go, they would give me valium and have me sit in the lobby for half hour just to make sure I wasn't 'over the top anxious'. I also got the "laughing gas" so that I could remain calm. Yeah, I was very nervous. Over the years I have gotten to where it is no valium and no gas and I suck it up like a big girl.
Dr. John placed a q-tip with the numbing gel on it against my gum and had me close my mouth. He sat in the chair next to me and waited perhaps a minute. I had my eyes closed and felt him move the q-tip so I opened my mouth so that he could put it where he wanted it. I knew eventually I'd get that dreaded shot in the mouth. But instead of moving the q-tip to another location, he slid in the needle and I didn't realize it until he was already pushing the plunger. Only fair a mild twinge. This is a lot different than what I've had over the years, for sure!
It didn't take long for the numbing of the jaw to come. He started working on that tooth and only once did I almost come out of the chair. It was towards the end and he was moving the covering he had over my mouth so that he could focus on that one tooth. The clamp slipped and hit my gum. OUCH! He finished what he needed to do - and they took another x-ray to make sure he did all he was to do.
And then he did something most doctors don't bother to do. He apologized for hurting me. Explained that it was 'his fault' and that the clamp had slipped, snapping against my gum. He said it 'was all me' and I'm sorry I hurt you. Wow. You don't hear those words very often, do you? What is really cool about this place is that when they finished up and took THAT photo - another something unheard of - they will call me in a year to come back and let them take another photo of that tooth to make sure everything is still good with it. Who else does that? I've had numerous root canals completed and no one has ever cared what happened after I left their office. No photos, no follow-up to make sure you are ok. Yeah, I really like this office and would recommend them, for sure!
And the pain only lasted a short while. I had a couple stops to make on my way back home - and although I do not normally do this, my mouth was dry, I was hungry, and I was still wound up from being at the endodontist office. So I stopped at McDonalds. Yep - me who never go to McDonalds - went to McDonalds. A medium order of french fries would be perfect to put through the left side of my mouth, the side I could feel, and satisfy the hunger I felt. But to wash it down? A soda wouldn't work cause it would somehow dribble down the numb side of my mouth (right?) so I 'gave in' and bought a Shamrock Shake. Actually bought one for hubby too. And it was good. It had taste and it went down good.... :-) I was a happy camper.
I now have an appointment in a couple weeks to go back to my dentist to get a crown put on (I know, right?). That visit will really cost me. This one I only had to pay out a couple hundred that the insurance wouldn't pay. This crown will be about double that, I'm afraid. Oh well. It has to be done.
How many times have we tried to do what is right - and get hurt in the process? That stab in the back (or so it feels), the slap across the face (in utter disbelief at what was said or done), the pain in the heart (at the disappointment) - they all hurt. Sometimes it is temporary, sometimes it lasts a bit longer. It depends on how long we dwell on it. Sometimes it is easier to forgive and forget things spouses and our children do to us, than it is when it is a sibling or friend offends us. Those things really hurt.
But have we ever thought about how God feels when we turn our backs on Him? When we say things that hurt other people, we hurt God. When we slam the door on friendships over things that have no value, we hurt God. When we take out our anger on our spouses, our children, our friends or family, we hurt God.
He loves us so much that He wants us to be perfect, just as He is perfect. God created you to be perfect. Jesus came to earth to set the example for us that we are to follow in His footprints. If we choose to walk in those footprints, we walk with God. And when we walk with God, we have complete joy and fellowship with the One who created us in His image.
Remember the 'Footprints in the Sand' story? I really do love reading that and it means a lot to me. Why? Because I love the two versions of it. One is when there are two sets of footprints, then only one. The moral of that version is Jesus is walking with us in our journey of life, but when things get really tough (and they always do), He carries us (one set of footprints) to get us through it. But there is another version that I also like. There are two sets of footprints, Jesus walking with us. Then only one, Jesus carrying us through the tough part. Then footprints all over the place, and this is my favorite part - Jesus is dancing with us. Hallelujah! I love the times when we dance together.
God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good. Are you walking with Jesus, being carried by Jesus, or dancing with Jesus right now?
Blessings!
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