“When she said, ‘there’s nothing to get me out of this,’ I simply said, ‘Prayer.’”

About a month ago, I had a grueling time at the dentist with the first part of installing a crown. A practitioner who is a member of our Association was a huge help.

Yesterday I returned to the dentist to have the crown placed permanently, and the practitioner again helped. The dentist said my crown was perfect. Afterwards, I told the practitioner that she couldn’t imagine what a huge thing this was—first, for me to get to the dentist, and then to have it be such a success. In the past there have always been problems, and sometimes work has had to be redone. For years I was so fearful that I couldn’t even talk about it.

Today my next-door neighbor walked by, and I gave out a spirited hi. As she dumped something in her trashcan, she yelled out, “Do you go to the dentist?” Yes. She explained how she has been having massive difficulties with dental procedures that have had to be done and redone (ten times in four months), but are still not right. Recently she had surgery, but that has not resolved the problem because of some immune-system deficiency. She won’t take drugs and is in excruciating pain. (In the past, an incorrect medical prescription permanently damaged her in some way, leaving her high strung with a nervous screechy laugh at the end of every sentence and in response to others.)

She said that no one knows what to do, and “here my husband’s an M.D.!” Her surgeon doesn’t know, and her dentist is at the end of his rope. She’s going somewhere for a second opinion, but “there’s nothing to get me out of this!”

As she spoke, everything covered at the Association luncheon workshop went racing though my mind—plus all the temptations against it.

When she said, “there’s nothing to get me out of this,” I simply said, “Prayer.” And waited for her response. Seeing her keen attentiveness, I kept going. We talked for at least 20 minutes. I told her that God who is Love never causes us to suffer, but loves us and brings relief. She asked if I’d had healings myself, and I cited a couple where I’d been in extreme pain.

She was as quiet as a child while I encouraged her to go to her Bible, perhaps Psalm 23, and fall at the feet of Love, as it were, like a child. I don’t think her eyes ever blinked. She never once laughed or made a nervous sound. She thanked me very much, and I went inside to work a lot more.

I have not heard back from her. But I offered to have her call me any time she wanted to continue our conversation or talk further about the Psalms.