Making Room
We came home with a little instrument, and every night I had to insert it into the palate-spreading apparatus in the top of my girl’s mouth. (When I had braces they called it a palate splitter, which seemed more appropriate.)
One time I started the turn and didn’t realize the tool wasn’t inserted into the hole correctly. Jabbed that girl in the back of the throat, and there will come a day when she will blackmail me with that information. (And will she forgive me for posting a picture of her during the braces years? But isn’t she beautiful even with a mouth full of metal?)
Anyway, sometimes you have to make room for everything that needs to grow into the mouth. It was fascinating that in just a few weeks I could see gaps in my daughter’s front teeth. It was a fast and achy process.
And sometimes God splits the heart just like that.
Paul says, “Be…compassionate to one another.” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV)
Compassion is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another, and you tell me where is that going to fit in this heart of mine unless God makes some room for it.
Unless some tool of suffering comes in and twists and causes pain first.
In just the short time of grieving since my dad went to be with the Lord, I can already feel the space inside my heart –how big it’s gotten. How much I hurt for this one family over the last few weeks and how I cried for another family just today.
One of my dear friends is an orthodontist, and I may ask if he has an extra one of those palate-spreading devices for me to use as a bookmark in my Bible.
A little reminder of what has to happen on the way to beautiful.
Good morning Christy,
I read only 2 verses in my devotions this morning, because God stopped me with their meaning. I wanted to share them with you. I believe they will comfort you. Isaiah 57:1-2 (NCV) – “Those who are right with God may die, but no one pays attention. Good people are taken away, but no one understands. Those who do right are being taken away from evil and are given peace. Those who live as God wants find rest in death.” Now, here is the understanding that God revealed to me as I read this this morning: Death is peace for all believers, but there are times when God takes a believer home sooner than WE may expect, in HIS mercy, in order to deliver them from the evil of this world and into His peace and rest.
I know you feel that whole in your life, and I ache for you, especially knowing my own dad will not be with us much longer. But perhaps it is a comfort to you that God took your dad in order to deliver him into peace and rest, because He loves him so much, and had mercy on him. May God continue to be with you and comfort you during this time!
Mary
These verses are sweet to my ears. Thank you so much for sharing them. I appreciate the love and care for me so much!