I had the most delightful encounter with a child at our recent Molly’s Revenge concert at St. Clare’s.
Six year old Molly Wildy came up to me during the break in concert. She said to me: “Fr. Ron, is there a blessing for loose teeth?” She was very serious!
My response was as quick as could be: “Of course, Molly, why do you ask?”
“You see,” she continued, “I have these two loose teeth that need to come out and I’d like a blessing.”
Now some of you might think it is a crazy, silly thing to bless a child who is about to lose her first baby teeth.
But you’d be wrong.
God loves everything about us. I’m reminded of that every time I look at my children, every time I look at my wife. There are things about my family that are little details I love. I get into the minutia of this freckle here, the way this hair grows there, they way this one’s smile goes crooked there, the way this child stands like so! Most people see the imperfections and think: “Oh, boy!” Me, I look at the imperfects and say: “Yeah, that’s my child…that’s my wife.”
I believe God loves us the same way, only with far deeper intensity. Luke 12:6-7 says the following: “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Nothing against the sparrows, but God loves us with passionate detail! Hold your child in heart and mind a moment. Even in your deepest frustration with him/her, recall the love that makes you glad that you are their parent. Or if you have no children, reflect on the one person you love deeply. Now you have a glimpse of what love God has for you and your family. With that knowledge, blessing a loose tooth only makes sense.
So we prayed! And the next day, Molly took out the first of her baby teeth!
The next time you feel unloved, lonely, unworthy of care, remember the deep, abiding, faithful, detailed love that God has for you. It’s more love than you could possibly imagine!
Yours for the reign of God,
Fr. Ron
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