Sitting
in the dentist chair may not seem too tough, but for me it has been huge task. First there is the orchestra of noise
emanating from that one room. There are
people I do not know looking at me, evaluating me, deciding what label to stick
on me. Then there is a great set of
strange and daunting instruments that can be used in who knows what torture
inside your own mouth. It is safe to say the dentist office is not in the top
100 places I most want to visit.
However, over the last couple months I have
been trotting in on regular basis. My
first strategy was, “Never, ever open your mouth.” That was not too workable it seems. This dentist office worked hard to be kind
and patient. They took small steps to
help me succeed. I was able to have a relative
stranger completely clean my teeth. I
was able to have pictures taken. Then came
drilling day. I was really scared. The nice girls who had helped me were busy
elsewhere. The dentist came right
away. I hated it! I needed to communicate, so I did. I told
them loudly and clearly in Japanese I was scared. They understood, but did not stop . Clearly reinforcements were needed. I sat up, folded my hands and called on
Jesus. My parents joined in. Strangely, the dentist did not change, nor
did the office, but I was able lay back and open my mouth, knowing God was in
control of that dentist. This is the God
who has my name written on His palm. Success. However, it was not so much my success as the
Hand of God holding me through the storm.
Although it is hard, it is not impossible. I was even able to laugh through the storm last
time I went. It was God tickling
me.
I might add that the pain was not a
problem. The problem was strange sensations from people I did not know working
in my mouth. I have come to realize
autistic people to not experience incoming sensations as other people do. In my case it is magnified maybe at least 100
fold. It is hard to overcome this. I need help from my parents and more
important, my heavenly Father. I will
not give up. I will keep moving ahead,
and holding God’s hand. My name is
written on that hand. I can trust Him.
