Discussion In The Dentist Chair

It was my dental cleaning and checkup.
Every six months, my appointment is scheduled.
There is something about that clean, just-out-of-the-dentist feeling.
I used to lovingly tease my children when they went to the dentist.

Your teeth are so shiny, I need sunglasses, I would say to the littlest one.
They would giggle and believe that their clean teeth shined like the sun.
I knew that no one would tell me that they needed sunglasses when I got out of the chair.
I knew that the just-out-of-the-dentist clean would end after I had lunch.

While it lasted it was delightful.
My smile seemed brighter.
It is always nice to hear that there are no problems.
However, it was my time in the chair with the hygienist that was a blessing.

There are a few hygienists in the office and I get a different one each time.
They are all wonderful and very efficient.
This young woman cleaned my teeth once before.
I remember the things we talked about the last time I was in her chair.

I looked at her in her brightly colored smock and remarked that her sneakers matched.
As she sat there asking me the questions that are usually asked, I noticed.
I noticed but I have learned not to say anything until I am sure.
I learned from personal experience: when in doubt say nothing.

Before she began we talked about our summers.
Then she mentioned that it was soon to be her second anniversary.
You were not married the last time you cleaned my teeth, I remarked.
She looked at my chart and exclaimed, you’re right; you have a good memory.

I was just about to be married then and now it’s our two-year anniversary.
And when the baby comes…
There it was, the something I was certain of, but not certain.
The something that when in doubt, I have learned to say nothing.

Congratulations! You look beautiful!
And she did.
There is something about a woman who is carrying a baby inside her.
There is a beauty that comes from deep within.

She got me settled and fastened the paper bib around my neck.
She worked carefully and continued to talk to me.
She talked about how excited she and her husband are for the baby to come.
As she talked she used the pronoun, she, so I knew she was having a girl.

I heard about the gender reveal party.
I listened as she explained that even she and her husband did not know until then.
She explained how her mother-in-law brought the sealed envelope to the baker.
The baker was the only one who knew whether the baby was to be a boy or girl.

At the party, upon cutting the cake, the center would be either pink or blue.
When her husband saw that the cake was pink, he couldn’t believe it.
She was certain she was having a boy.
She told me her due date and she told me about her morning sickness.

I heard about many of her friends who had difficult pregnancies.
They all told her their stories and the stories were starting to worry her.
She was wondering if she had similar symptoms.
She was wondering if the same thing was going to happen to her.

All the while, the instruments were in my mouth, so I was a captive audience.
She knew that I have five children and she began to ask me questions.
I could only utter a garbled sound as an attempt to answer her.
I could only try to answer her when she told me to rinse.

I smiled to myself thinking that this always happens.
You can never answer what is asked of you when you are in the dentist’s chair.
You can only affirm with your eyes and give an eyebrow waggle to suggest surprise.
It is a nonverbal language that has been well crafted over time.

She had concerns.
She talked about her fears.
She remarked that the books and the Google searches made things worse.
She found the parenting classes troubling.

They told us not to take our baby out for three months since she will be born in the winter.
They told us that no one else should hold her.
They made me very afraid and then reading things online made everything worse.
I could only utter that garbled sound.

Finally, you can rinse now, was spoken.
This was my chance before the Mr. Slurpie thingamajig was put back into my mouth.
You have the best resource right there, I said pointing.
God gave you a mother’s heart.

She smiled and let me continue.
Maybe you should keep one book that explains what to do for a fever or a cold.
Other than that, put the books away.
God gives a mother special intuition and discernment that is unique to her child.

But how will I know her cries? I heard you could tell them apart, she asked so innocently.
You can tell them apart; you will know the difference in no time, I told her.
The lusty cry is hunger; the irritable, “I don’t know what I want” is a tired cry.
The cry that is silent at first and then becomes a loud wail is a pain cry.

She looked at me as if I was imparting the wisdom of the world.
To her, I was.
I was someone who walked where she is now walking.
And that made all the difference.

We had a discussion in the dentist chair.
Discipleship and mentoring was happening as only God could arrange.
One-anothering was taking place amid the dental instruments and the rinsing cup.
Two women, one older and one younger, were bonding over motherhood.

Because she had a miscarriage a year ago, she is having frequent ultrasounds.
Praise God, the baby she is carrying is fine.
I love to see her on the ultrasound, she said wistfully.
I have an app on my phone that tells me what she looks like each day.

My husband and I were amazed that she already has fingerprints.
I looked at her on the screen and could not believe that even though she’s little, she is a baby!
I smiled at the way God makes Himself known.
She could not deny that this little one is a baby girl, not a glob of tissue.

I really believe women should have a choice, she said after I told her that I am pro-life.
My husband is pro-life, she added, but when I saw her…I don’t know…she’s a baby!
Yes, she is! I exclaimed with excitement.
That is why abortion clinics do not want women to have an ultrasound, I explained.

They know that if a young mother saw the ultrasound of her baby, she could not kill it.
They know that the ultrasound picture does not lie, I continued.
It’s pretty amazing, she said with her hand on her belly.
God is amazing, I said with all the conviction I could muster.

Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up just as in fact you are doing.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)

We had a discussion in the dentist chair as only God could arrange.
An older woman encouraged a younger woman.
Someone who walked where someone else is now walking.
That encouragement is vitally important.

Young mothers are hungry for mentoring.
Young mothers have fears and often no family nearby to answer their questions.
We, who are older, need to be available to answer their questions.
In the answering, there is always the pointing.

There is a need to point them towards God, the only One who answers perfectly.
This does not have to be a formal process but it does have to happen.
Jesus has already walked where we are now walking.
He is the perfect example.

Answer their questions and point them to Him.
Are you willing?