Tooth Care is Soul Care

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.
For what children are not disciplined by their father?”  Heb. 12:7

“Everyone must choose one of two pains: 

the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” Jim Rohn

For almost a month, I allowed my tooth and gum problem to distract me. Last Saturday, I decided to end it. Yes, I visited my friend dentist and allowed her to save me from unnecessary pain by inflicting me with the necessary one.  

Two Kinds of Pain

There are many kinds of pain. The MD’s, PhD’s, EdD’s, JD’s, STD’s, SCD’s and all other with ‘D’s’ knows it for sure. But let me just categorize them into two. The toxic or unnecessary pains and the healthy or necessary pains.

Are you in pain right now?

The next question is equally important to answer. Is it a toxic or a healthy one?

Avoid Toxic or Unnecessary Pains

You and I know that pains are part of our life. They are one of most important communication tools used by our body to tell us that there is something wrong. Imagine, for example, what would happen if you felt nothing when you accidentally cut your finger while preparing meals? Or shall we say you accidently placed your hand in a cutting machine. I’m sure you’ll lose your hand in no time.

But here’s the thing. The ‘No pain, No gain!’ slogan is not always true. Why?

Because not all ‘pain’ are necessary for us to ‘gain.’ There are pains that will only cause us more pain and they will only sip our focus, energy and dreams. These pains are called toxic pains. They are basically worthless and useless and we should pray and try our very best not to experience them. Jesus Christ has taught us to avoid them.

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Mt. 6:13

Failing in the class is painful. But it is more painful to know that you failed because you don’t study hard and you were caught cheating. Now, don’t tell yourself “God has a reason.”-that’s plain mediocrity, self-inflicted toxic pain!

Ending a marriage is painful. But when you lose your marriage because you habitually drink, don’t work or passionately date someone else other than your wife (or husband), don’t tell yourself: “It’s my destiny”- that’s plain selfishness, self-inflicted, unnecessary toxic pain!

Poverty is painful. And when you find you’re poor because you’ve never tried applying for work, building a business or investing into something, in short you’re lazy, don’t claim “Blessed are the poor”- that’s plain stupidity, self-inflicted, useless toxic pain!

Toothache is indeed painful (You know it). But when you experienced it because you never visited a dentist, never drink  water regularly, never brushed your teeth well, don’t be like me – for almost a month, I had just gave myself useless, worthless, unnecessary, toxic pain!

From Toxic Pains to Healthy Ones

(IMPORTANT! Even though there is still a way for us, or better say for God to replace toxic pains by ‘healthy’ ones, this should not give us the permission to be mediocre, lazy, stupid, or careless in life. Know this; all self-inflicted pains out of laziness and stubbornness are deadly. They can kill us in no time, giving us no more chance to fix the problem and relieve the pain we inflicted to ourselves and particularly to our love ones. Remember still, prevention is better than cure!)

Here’s the good news!  

I believe God is like my friend dentist. With God’s tool of mercy, compassion and love, He can remove our toxic pains and be free from it forever. But take note- for Him to be able to do this, we should be ready to go and visit God and ‘allow’ Him to ‘inflict’ us with the pain of commitment and self-discipline. I’m telling you, it’s indeed painful but they are healthy pains and you and I need it. God said,

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.
For what children are not disciplined by their father?”Heb. 12:7

He also added,

“Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, 

so the LORD your God disciplines you.” Deut. 8:5.

Nobody Said It’s Easy But Everything Will Be Worthwhile

Getting a diploma is painful. I mean, we should be ready to sleep late and wake up early if we must. We need to go to school early and arrive on time. We need to refuse tempting but unnecessary invitations from friends. We need to budget our allowances and be honest in our requirements. Of course, we need to study and do a lot of research (particularly for the thesis). These are not easy but these are healthy pains and we need it to become successful students.

Happy marriage and family life is painful. I mean, when we prioritize our wife and kids more than a basketball game with friends. When we need to leave our work behind and chat with our wife and play with our kids at home (this is really hard for me sometimes). When we need to skip meals or shopping galore with friends for us to get home on time to enjoy our wife’s specialty. When we exchange our dream Nike shoes for the schooling of our kids.  These and more are not easy but these are healthy pains and we need it to be successful and fulfilled in our family life.

Getting rich is painful. Yes, it’s a hard work especially getting rich through honest and legitimate means.  You need to study and research hard. You need to plan about it, implement it, test it and evaluate it. You need to do budgeting, go places and meet unfamiliar faces. All in all, you need to go out of your comfort zone and be ready and familiar with the mistakes and defeats. Indeed they are not easy and painful, but they are healthy pains and we need them to be ‘truly’ rich- so we can also be rich in giving.

Toothache is painful but tooth care is more.  I mean, when you purposely include in your schedule and in your budget the dentist check-up. When you skip sweets such as candies and soft drinks for plain water. When you take time to really brush your teeth well, up and down, in and out, round and round ‘til 3 minutes (especially when you’re getting late). When you need to change your brush and gurgle regularly. Yes, they are not easy and painful for me (I admit, they  never become a habit for me)but I’m willing to seriously undergo with it now for I believe they are healthy pains and I need them to have a clean and healthy teeth and gums.

Remember, God can remove our toxic pains and replaced it with healthy ones.

Soul Care Lessons From a Generous Dentist

Allow me to end by sharing you 3 great lessons about tooth care. If you’ll make them a habit, I guarantee you that it will not only make your teeth strong and shinny but also your soul dashing white and holy.

Have Your Check-up With A Dentist Regularly

I don’t have the habit to visit a dentist regularly. I think, like any other typical Filipino, I usually see a dentist only and only if I can no longer stand the hell-like pain headache caused by my tooth or gum problems. (Alam mo yun, ‘pag sumasakit na, gusto nang ipabunot, pero pag nawala na ang sakit, hindi naman pinabubunot).

Sometimes, I also behave like this in my relationship with God. If everything is well, I never find time to visit Him, or consult Him. If there is something wrong but I can still manage it, still, ‘never visit Him. But when I cannot stand it anymore, there I’ll go. And during this time, of course, the ‘problematic tooth’ can no longer be saved without extracting it from my gums. You know what I mean?

I think most of my tooth could have been saved if only I visited my dentist regularly. (My dentist reminded me that for more healthy teeth and gums, twice or once a year check-up is a must). I believe it is also the same with life. Many difficulties or challenges didn’t have to turn into monstrous and uncontrollable one if and only if we only learn to consult God – the Dentist regularly. Meaning, in bad or good times, small challenges and big ones, in sickness or in health, we must give regular time for prayer.

Drink Lots of Water

I also learned that to protect our teeth and gums, we need to drink lots of water.  It is very good especially for those who like to eat sweets, drink sodas as well as to those who likes to talk like me. It is because, as my friend dentist explains, when we eat sweets or our mouth is dry, bacteria acids grow faster and they begin to damage our teeth. And so to wash away these bacteria, we need to drink lots of water and gurgle regularly.

In spiritual life, I firmly believe that the deadliest bacteria that can cover and destroy the ‘enamel’ of our  soul are selfishness and envy. The book of James reveals it:

 “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”  James 3:16

And so today, I invite you also to wash it by drinking the ‘Water of Generosity’ regularly. Indeed when generosity becomes part of our lifestyle, we can and will escape from the disastrous and hell-like pain effects of sins as individuals and as a people. The gospel of John reveals this:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Did you notice? The problem and the solution have the same chapter and verse? I think this is now easy for us to remember. Bacteria -selfishness, Water- generosity. Today, I invite you to gurgle out your bacteria of selfishness through the saving water of generosity.

Brush Well

I also need to admit that more than I rush; it’s not really part of my vocabulary to brush well. I thought when I have my tooth brush, (whatever kind it is or how long I’ve been using it), a pinch of toothpaste, a glass of water, mix them through a minute or less of brushing, then that’s it. I was really wrong. And I think one of the hardest pains to admit that God showed me last Saturday is that I’ve been careless and I took for granted my dental health.  (Thank you God for ‘inflicting’ me with this necessary and healthy pain).

I really thanked my friend dentist for this.  It is because through her, God reminds me that I need to take care of my health, if I also want to continue with my ministry. Without healthy teeth, gums and all in all, healthy body, it would be impossible for me to love and serve my family and the rest.

So I learned that we should take care of ourselves well, think well, speak well, and do things well. Not half-hearted, not always in a hurry, but to take ample time to savor health, family, friends and ministry. Remember brush your teeth well.

Thank You Doc!

To close, allow me to express my gratitude to my generous friend and dentist, Dr. Cindy Lopez of Toothcare Dental Clinic here in Carmona, Cavite. Thank you again Doc for the cleaning, extraction, freebies and timely inspirations. It’s been a pleasure having my tooth extracted while sharing your wisdom with me. By the way, you did not only clean my teeth, you also bless my spirit. God will surely bless your generous heart and plans.

Friends, I invite you, avoid toxic pains. But if ever you already have one or two today, believe that God can remove them and replace them with healthy ones. He did remove mine; allow Him to remove yours today.

Let us pray.

Generous Father, thank you for the wisdom that you have given me today. Take away my toxic pains and replace them with healthy ones. Help me to have the courage and trust to receive discipline from you. Help me also to give time for you in prayer, in generous service, and in fulfilling my responsibilities well. In Jesus name, I humbly pray. Amen.  

‘Til next time.  

 God loves you!