We had a little accident in our home the other night. My children decided to play ball in my daughter’s room. What usually happens happened last week, but this time it ended differently. The ball they like to play with is one of those large balls you can actually sit on. This activity always starts off nice and calm as they roll the ball back and forth to each other. It doesn’t always end that way however.

This particular evening, my daughter came running out of her room with blood all over her mouth. I didn’t panic because I knew what happened. The ball hit her in the face and succeeded in moving her two very loose front teeth much closer to their exit. I cannot tell you how glad I was. Before you think I’m really cruel, let me explain. These two teeth have been defying gravity for weeks now; they were so ready to fall out!

As I tried to dry her tears and clean her mouth, I approached the dangling pieces of bone with determination. I was not going to see these things in the morning if it was the last thing I did! The first loose one came out fairly easily. The second one was stubborn, obviously unhappy that its partner had left. My daughter was screaming at this point. She is not very brave to begin with, but with a little blood added to the picture, you have an Academy Award presentation. A few minutes later, my sweet boy comes timidly along and offers to help. This was not a good idea as the sight of him only brought back memories of the dreaded ‘missile’ that had crashed into her face. She cried with renewed vigor as he encouraged her to let me yank out the other tooth. It was then that I thanked him, but suggested he leave the room. What was about to happen would not be pretty. My first attempt was a miserable failure; I thought I might need to call an ambulance (for me, not for her). My second attempt was finally successful, and though she was beside herself at this point, she was beginning to realize that she was going to live.. Not only did she not have to deal with really sensitive teeth moving in every direction, but now she could literally stick her entire tongue through clenched teeth! What a trick that nobody else could do!

 We can laugh now at what was not the least bit funny at the time. And after only 5 minutes or so, she was happy as could be and decided that everyone needed to know she lost both her teeth. We took pictures, we thanked her brother, and we spent a good while in front of the mirror.

Tonight as she prayed, she thanked Jesus for taking out her two old teeth and for getting ready to give her two new ones. It made me think of how often we resist losing what so desperately needs to go, even when something so much better is on its way. I believe it’s because we have no real understanding of what ‘better’ will be like. I can’t tell you how many times she has told me that she is glad her teeth are gone. I do my best not to remind her however just how strongly she sought to keep them. Then she couldn’t understand; now she does.

Aren’t we like that? We desire to hold onto what is fading and useless really, rather than to embrace what Jesus offers us. And we do it for the same reason my daughter did. It is so hard to look at what we don’t yet know as better, when we have become comfortable with what we have (regardless of how inefficient it may be). But when the new comes, we can see clearly that it is far better than what we had; the new is no longer a mystery to be afraid of but a reality to be thankful for.

For Today: there is so much about our spiritual growth that takes time to understand, and so much need to trust our Father. God knows that we don’t let go easily; He knows that in our humanness we resist parting with what we are familiar with, even if it isn’t all that good. Praise God He brings the new into our lives nonetheless; He doesn’t wait for us to be ready for it or even to desire it.

I have placed my daughter’s two front teeth in a special place for safe keeping. They will be a reminder to me, and eventually to her as I share this story, of how she needed to lose the old before she could gain the new. They weren’t meant to be there for her whole life; they were only temporary. And the same goes for us; whatever we have to lose or part with will always be replaced by the One who knows what will best meet the need we have in our lives. God is the giver of all that is good.

I thank Him for the lesson He has taught me as my daughters tears turned to laughter and joy. I thank Him that He allowed her to lose something but learn that it was OK, even though it hurt. He has done that with my tears many times as well.

      What has God replaced in your life?

Psalm 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.