Apple pie for braces
Hello sam
I, like many parents, maybe more so because I have worked as a dental assistant, am concerned about my children’s teeth. I make sure they brush after every meal and monitor how much sugary sweets they eat. I also watch how their teeth line up. One of the more feared words is orthodontist. For the parents, this is a costly process. For the child, braces can be embarrassing and require a lot of upkeep.
Well, Jeff needed some work done. He had one tooth in particular that was causing problems. It was rotated 90 degrees out of place. Fortunately for us, the dentist at Ukurumpa had a creative solution for starting the process of correcting this. But he would need more help.
We have been blessed in a real way. Several years ago, we were referred to a dentist who offered to take care of all of our dental work for free. Quite an offer and so necessary since we often don’t see a dentist for three years. Well, he referred us to an orthodontist friend to continue straightening out Jeff’s dental issues.
We made an appointment and went with a little trepidation concerning what this was going to cost. As we entered his office, we were greeted by an incredible assortment of large mounted insects. Felt like we were walking into a museum in PNG. In fact, we have our own collection of the largest insects in PNG to hang on our walls and put on display as we travel.
We sat and wondered what kind of orthodontist would have such a collection on display?
When we finally met the doctor, we found the chance to ask about his collection. He commented that he did volunteer work in places like Brazil and was an amateur entomologist. We then shared that we had just returned from PNG and had our own collection. And so, our conversation continued as we talked about our experiences in different parts of the world.
Finally, he stopped to examine Jeff and was quite amazed at the creativity of the dentist in PNG in starting to turn the tooth. He was quite happy to continue the work and get all the teeth lined up properly. We were happy that he was willing to do so. I was not sure Jeff was as happy as his parents.
Finally, we asked, a bit sheepishly, how much the dental work would cost. He looked at me and asked if I knew how to make an apple pie? I said that yes, I could make an apple pie. He said “great, and that is how much the dental work is going to cost, one apple pie.”
We were floored by his generosity. He was not a Christian, but seemed to truly enjoy helping others. And we were so thankful to God for providing in so many ways for our needs and in some very creative ways. I made that apple pie and cookies and other sweets for him and his staff. It seemed like every time we came for an appointment, we stopped and had a little party to enjoy what I had brought.
You just never know what door may open to share God’s love with others, even a misaligned tooth can provide such an opportunity.
Love Nancy
Do you believe that God can provide for your needs? Are you open to being surprised? Here is the tough question. If we truly believe that God knows our needs and will provide for them, then why are we surprised when he does?