Kicked in the Teeth

Verse for the day:
2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (NIV)

Our seven-year old twin boys, Kevin and Chris, believe that bedtime is merely a change of environment. They are delighted by this new, softer place where they can wrestle and continue their energetic conversations long into the night. We usually let them go for fifteen to twenty minutes before declaring an end to their fun.

Last night, Kevin charged into the living room about 10 minutes after he’d been put to bed, enthusiastically proclaiming that Chris had made him lose his tooth! As far as I knew, Kevin didn’t have any loose teeth at the moment, so I was a little concerned about how this had happened. It turned out that Chris had kicked Kevin in the mouth during a wrestling session, and both boys were laughing hysterically about it (as only boys can do). After yet another lecture about not hurting each other when they played, Kevin proudly put his tooth in a plastic bag and positioned it under his pillow for the Tooth Fairy. His eyes sparkled at the prospect of a new, shiny quarter in return.

Later I marveled at how Kevin totally ignored the pain of the situation in the excitement of the moment. I often feel like I’ve been kicked in the teeth by the world, and I’ll guarantee that I’m not paying any attention to possible benefits that might be derived from the experience. Car breakdowns, rapidly rising grocery and gas prices, escaping dogs, and activities my kids forgot to tell me about tend to keep me focused on how these things disrupt my life.

Yet God promises us that these troubles, which really are light and momentary, are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all! While I may not see the small joys that occur in times of trouble (yes, there are some), I can know without a doubt that Heaven will be a time of eternal worship and joy. These little crises will pass and be forgotten quickly in the frenzy of my life, yet I can always focus on that little piece of Heaven that will be mine some day. I hope I do that with at least the same enthusiasm as Kevin held for the promise of a quarter from the Tooth Fairy.

Next time something happens that makes you feel like someone was out to ruin your day, look for hidden blessings. Could you be thankful that your budget could handle the expense, or that you met someone you would otherwise have never encountered?