Because God Can Use Even the Tooth Fairy Drama

Before I was pregnant with our first child Dr. Romance and I agreed not to lie to our children about such characters as the tooth fairy. We have not taught our kids to believe they exist. However, because they choose to believe in the tooth fairy, we choose to play along. So when  Son1 asked Dr. Romance if the tooth fairy is real just before he lost his first tooth, Hubs told him she was not real. He looked his daddy square in the eye and announced she WAS real and that he believed. We play along with make believe superheroes, war games, and police officers, so the tooth fairy is no different to us. I know it sounds duplicitous and ridiculous. But it works for us.

When Son1 lost his first tooth Dr. Romance handed him a sandwich sized zip baggie to stash his tooth. Except my little man boldly insisted the tooth fairy could not possibly open or carry this baggie. He did not listen when we told him this baggie worked. So he cut a tiny triangle from a corner of the baggie to make a teeny tiny bag for his bony appendage. And then, he lost his tooth. We sent out an all points bulletin and the boys, Dr. Romance, and I searched high and low for this tooth, just shy of an hour. Dr. Romance called a 5 minute warning for a cease search. Watching my son's red eyes spill with tears, I grabbed our family into a circle and suggested we pray we find the missing tooth. I said a silent prayer first, asking God to show mercy and help us find the tooth, so I could model praying aloud for God's help, asking that despite my son's disobedience we were asking for a show of love.

I am telling you the absolute that Dr. Romance shot me a frustrated look when I asked that we pray for a tooth. So I squeezed my eyes shut quickly and just prayed from my heart. I opened my eyes, took one step, and I kicked something under my foot and we all shouted and hooped and hollered for the found tooth. And we praised God for that tooth.

A few days later, Son1 lost his second tooth. *Sigh* Same song, second verse. After much discussion we duct taped an envelope that guarded his lost tooth, shoved it into a plastic baggie, and zipped it closed. We told him not to open it under any circumstances. He said he was not going to open it. But pleasing the tooth fairy brought him to disobey us. More tears on his part. More frustration on ours.

We honestly could have shattered the tooth fairy right there. We could have called her out. But we chose once again to bring our son's disobedience to God, because God can use even the tooth fairy drama for his good. Because my heart is actively engaged in prayer for my sons through these 21 days, the way I treat their disobedience is different. I am turning away from my usual anger and impatience.

Son1 asked for forgiveness. I prayed aloud with him. I prayed that he would trust God and be faithful with his word and actions. I asked God that he would learn to trust his parents, as we have only his best at heart.

And so, over a crumpled envelope and a tear stained pillow, a heaving little boy went to sleep. And I walked down the stairs reflecting how much I love him, and how important praying for him and with him matters.