I counted the phrase “And it came to pass. . . ” to occur over 49 times in the King James Version of the Gospel of Luke. It is left out of many translations, but I rather like thinking on that phrase when it comes to life’s afflictions.
It came to eventually move on, pass by. It, my thorn, came. It didn’t just happen at random or evolve; it was the result of a plan. That plan is temporary and earthbound. Living with chronic pain and illness makes the ‘eventually’ part seem insurmountable. There are days when we don’t feel much comforted by the idea of relief being at the end of many years. And then we get the flu. . . or a cold, or a toothache.
The latter was my recent plight and it reminded me of a simple truth I need to relearn from time to time. I can heal, some things do go away. It is all still in the Master’s hand.
Am I a little loopy to be encouraged by abscessed teeth, and dry sockets? Probably, yet I prefer to consider it being a fool for Christ. First off, it reminds me that I can go through a malady fairly normally. Other factors pop to my mind then, as I start down the path of gratitude. I am used to living with pain and have adjusted my lifestyle.
My young neighbor with several small children to care for and farm chores would really have it worse than I do because she is not accustomed to this sort thing. Another point is that I have access to pain medication. To some folks in my church a pain pill means a Tylenol tablet.
And so my mind goes on to the fact, yes, fact that as my tooth woes were remedied by antibiotic and extraction, so will my years of pain find eventual remedy. It will seem light, it will find resolution, and it will shrink in size. Smaller ailments are a bother, but they have a lesson to teach us.