"The Truth About the Tooth!"

Awaking this morning to a little soreness in my tooth from the surgery the night before, and feeling good about the prospect of saving it from being pulled for several years to come, my husband and I head out to a long awaited doctor's visit to have my heart scan and a talk with the Physician's Assistant about when I will began chemo and all the particulars. My dentist had shared the procedure he had performed on my tooth with me, so that I could fill my doctor in on the details. Because there was infection present, the PA informed me that I would have to heal before chemo could began, probably another two weeks, since healing is difficult during treatment, but she would talk with my doctor who was in surgery at the hospital and let me know what he said. I had my heart scan and headed back home. Several hours later, my phone rings and it's Nicole, the PA. She tells me that she has spoken with my doctor and he wants me to have the tooth "pulled!" My mind suddenly goes back to the night before when my dentist and his assistant so willingly gave up their evening with family and stayed to help save my tooth, not to mention the soreness and stitches I was sporting. I call the dental office and tell them the news. I am told to come on over and they will do as the doctor asked. As I type this blog, I find it harder and harder to see the outside of the person I used to be. Within 3 months time, I have lost a breast, a tooth and soon my hair. Does this bother me, some. Do I know that this is a bump in the road in the scheme of things, while others suffer far worse fate, yes. As I sat in the dental chair today, waiting for my "sleepy juice" to work, I had a heart to heart with the One who made every inch of my body. "Whatever, you want Lord, whatever it is that I must do...use it to glorify you. I thank you God for allowing me to have my breast, my tooth, my hair...my life, if for only a season." On the drive home, I think of this scripture: Ecclesiastes 3: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.