I was nervous. Never did I consider my loss, but as I drove to my appointment I was nervous. I’ve never been nervous like this before. I had my husband’s support and presence. My youngest daughter came along for the ride too. I just didn’t expect it. I walked into the dental office, gave my name at the counter and sat down to wait.
The lady called the wrong version of my name, and I was in the dental chair within five minutes of my arrival. When I sat down, the dental assistant immediately began to prepare me for my appointment. I clarified – “I’ll get laughing gas and you’ll numb me right?” The dental assistant proceeded to respond with “We do have nitrous. Did you want nitrous? We can’t do anything without numbing you” “Yes, is that laughing gas? Yes, please give me laughing gas.” As I was preparing for a tooth extraction, my hands were squeezing each other, I was adjusting my oxygen mask and talking to the Lord in my head begging Him to get through it.
As the process began, I felt the dentist pulling in my mouth and was hearing crackling, crunchy sounds. They didn’t put me to sleep. Never again, by the way, will I experience a tooth extraction without being put to sleep. The dentist was explaining what I was experiencing, as I watched their strategically placed ceiling television. It was painted with beautiful outdoor scenery. I remember. I was dazed, eyes blinking, open, close, close, open, watching the fall leaves on the ceiling TV. I was still ringing my hands, praying the Lord would allow everything to go smoothly. It did go okay. I did survive, and I’m thankful. There are much more challenging extractions, though, than the removal of a tooth. Some of those extractions can be emotionally taxing, more than anything else. In all cases, I am reminded of the scripture in 2Timothy 1:7 that says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
I was told my tooth extraction was necessary. My tooth had a crack and an infection. It was dying and had the potential to cause issues with my gums, other teeth, sinuses and other parts of my body. I had a choice to make. I could have decided to keep my tooth out of fear and nerves, continuing in my suffering or remove it and choose the course of health. Ultimately, it was more important that I be healthy and care for myself.
Life habits, decisions and relationships can also be cracked and infected, requiring extraction. All of us have a responsibility to ourselves and those around us to extract habits, patterns of behavior and relationships that detain our growth and produce unhealthy results in our lives.
Some cracked habits to reconsider: last minute planning, arriving late, clerical errors, leaving off important details
Some cracked behaviors to reconsider: being dishonest, flying off the handle, being passive-aggressive, sharing confidential information, disparaging others, making promises you cannot keep, racially-motivated or prejudice communication, sexual advances
Some cracked relationships to reconsider: manipulative co-workers, affairs or uncommunicated romantic relationships in the work-place, relationships for advancement/promotion
There are big and small patterns we all exhibit that impact our growth in the midst of conflict or failure to fulfill responsibilities at work. We have a responsibility in life to be self-reflective and make adjustments that, in the long run, serve us and our communities.
Sincerely,
Girl with the missing tooth
Questions for Reflection:
- What are some life habits, decisions, and relationships that require extraction in your life?
- What are some small immediate changes you can make that would begin the process of extraction in your life?