Handle with care

So today I was reminded about how fragile life can be by nothing other than...my....TOOTH! I have had nothing but problems with my teeth, especially one in particular. I take good care of my teeth, but you would never know it. I am just one of the fortunate ones who was given weak teeth and I have to painstakingly deal with it every time I turn around.

I bit into a candy heart today and felt something weird. I was at school, so I didn't have a lot of time to check into it. I walked to the mirror that is on the inside of a cabinet and didn't see or feel any problems. Later, when I got home, I bit into something else, and voila! My tooth basically cracked in half. Now, this is a tooth that has had multiple problems. I had to have a root canal in middle or high school. Then, before I was to get married, the tooth cracked. Being a broke college student and almost newly wed person trying to make a living waiting tables at Applebees (yuck!) and go to school full-time, I just did not have the funds. It wasn't painful, so I left it alone until I could afford to deal with it. During the time I was waiting it got an infection. However, I would not find that out until after it was crowned. Well, a couple years later the tooth began to hurt which it really should not because it had a root canal done. So, they x-rayed it and there was an infection at where the root would be. They had to take care of that and basically do the root canal over again. I had to have it crowned a second time after that. Well, guess what!?! It cracked once again and I have been told by my dentist I need to see an oral surgeon to pull it out. URGH! So, after thousands of dollars (seriously) spent on this tooth to save it, it turns out it is still a piece of crap....there ya go! Money wasted! Good times had!

I take really good care of my teeth. I brush 2-3 times per day and I floss and rinse daily. I have a tooth brush in my classroom for Pete's sake.

I tell you all this because it reminded me how life is just fragile. Every aspect of it! The most fragile piece of life though, one that has to be handled with care, is your relationship with God. He needs for you to spend countless hours nurturing your relationship with Him so you can grow stronger in all aspects of life. Here I thought I took care of my tooth, but it wasn't enough. Even when I think I am on it with God, it is not enough...it will never be enough. I have to handle my relationship with God carefully, because it is so fragile...

The funny thing about that is how much more fragile my life seems when I don't make Him a part of it. So Lord, help me to make sure I handle our relationship together with care and that I nurture it like nothing else...(oh and help me pay for my tooth, too!).