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