Today I had to take Emmeline to the dentist for two fillings, a pulpotomy, and a crown. We have known for two weeks that she needed this, but hadn't been able to go in yet for several boring reasons. Last night, her tooth started to hurt quite a bit and she was very distressed due to both pain and fear. At this point I let her know that she would be going to the dentist today. I made the appointment last week, but didn't want to tell her too far in advance because her treatment plan, upon discovering she needed work done, was to "die before ever coming back to this dentist. Mommy you will have to drag my dead body here! If you tell me we are going, I will hide!" We prayed together as a family and she was able to calm down and sleep all night, but bright and early she came into my room, scared, hurting, and crying. For her, at only 7 years old, this problem was huge, just about as big and bad as anything she has ever faced. I held her in my arms for a moment before she looked over at me and asked me to pray. We folded our arms and I thanked God for the great privilege of living in America, for dentists, and for dental insurance. I asked Him to calm my little girl's fears, to help her feel peace, to help her to trust me, and Him, and the dentist. I asked Him to help her know He is real by answering this prayer and helping her feel peace. By the end we were both crying. We got up and got ready and she bravely entered the dentist's office holding two stuffed animals and my hand. Gone were the tears as she ran off to watch the T.V. After 10 minutes of waiting, an office manager came out and apologized as she explained that they had made a mistake and scheduled Emmeline for a cleaning, and that they couldn't see her yet. Could I come back in the afternoon? Luckily, I could come back, but I worried that this would cause Emmeline hours of distress. But, she was fine. We went home and got her sisters and went for a walk/bike ride. We came back and ate lunch, watched some TV, and I taught her a piano lesson. When it was time to go again, she grabbed her two stuffed animals and we loaded up in the car. As I drove Emmeline asked me, "Mommy, do you think Heavenly Father answered our prayer?"
"Well," I asked back, "Do you think He did? How have you felt today?"
"I think he did. I feel really good."
It's a small thing, but so are sparrows, and if God loves those little birds, think of how much he loves my little girl, and every little girl, and every little boy, and every man, and every woman.
He gave her peace. As I watched her transformation from wanting to do anything to avoid the work, to walking in calmly and sitting bravely in the chair for 30 minutes of needles and drills, without even needing to hold my hand, I KNOW that God answered that prayer.
