It’s been four days since my gum graft procedure and I’m trying to get back to my normal routine. It’s not easy. I am surprised how relatively minor difficulties and disruptions of life can cause so much angst. Maybe God is teaching me how to better appreciate the little things in life
While my body heals from the trauma inflicted on it just to save a tooth – which evidently didn’t get flossed enough – I am required to forego a few things. Hot coffee in the morning is a no-no. A crunchy piece of toast with Tammy’s homemade apple jelly is off limits. No walnuts in my mushy oatmeal either. No crackers and cheese for a snack. No peanut butter or ham sandwich for lunch. No pizza for dinner… and no popcorn for weeks! If you can’t mash it or drink it cold, you can’t put it in your mouth.
A few weeks ago, I was worried about the procedure and the pain. Now I’m through that part. The procedure was tolerable, the pain and discomfort for the first two days was significant, but the ongoing denial of life’s basic pleasures is disheartening. Things are starting to really eat at me. Sleeping (or not sleeping) in a chair with my head raised, the permanent “snuff wad” in my lower lip, the pain in my palate, and living off yogurt and soup. Cold soup. With no crackers. I hate to sound like a whiner but the constant discomfort plus lack of sleep and nutrition with nary a comfort food to console is making me lose my last hold on hang-in-there cliff and drop headlong into the dusty desert of despondency.
All this brings new meaning to the scripture in Luke chapter 12 where Jesus said not to be overly concerned about what you will eat or what you will drink and do not worry about such things… for your Father knows that you need them. It’s part of a command Jesus gave not to worry, but I’ve had trouble connecting with it because at the place I am in life, my worries really aren’t about getting food, drink, or clothing. Who would worry about that stuff? Some people, but not me. My worries are much bigger than that. Until now.
Now I am realizing those simple things Jesus talked about – what you will eat and what you will drink and what you will wear – those ARE the big important things in life. Those simple pleasures are what bring joy to life and help get us through the tough times. Our loving Father has promised to provide them because he knows that we need them.
When Jesus said not to worry about them, he was talking about the “big” things. The most important things. The reason we can’t relate is because in our culture, we’ve made other things the big important stuff. The car payment, the career, the kids education, these may be the complicated things, but they are not the big things. The simple things are.
“… And which of you by worrying can add an hour to his life? So if you can not do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about the rest?”
– Jesus
My temporary banishment from some of these simple pleasures in life will soon be over. And when it is, I’m going to sip my hot coffee, bite into a crunchy piece of warm buttery toast covered with Tammy’s homemade jelly, and be grateful. I’m reminded of a line from an old hymn about God’s faithfulness “All I have needed thy hand hath provided…” It’s true. So why do I worry about the rest?
Waiting, rather impatiently, for the day when I will again not be worried about what I will eat.
– JMS