Lessons from a Lost Tooth

Someone said, “Parenthood is messy and challenging and crazy and sleepless and giving and beautifully unbelievable.”

Someone else said, “Behind every child is a parent pretty sure they are goofing it up.”

Preparing children for life takes much wisdom, patience, perseverance, and intentional teaching. These childrearing years fly by so quickly, and moments of excitement that light up a child’s eyes overshadow any challenges and difficulties we encounter along the way. 

Like, for example, losing one’s first tooth. That rite of passage brought much excitement to our house. When you have four children, you spend years losing teeth. 

Understand, losing teeth is a status symbol among the younger crowd. The most up-to-date cell phone comes later. Losing that first tooth is something to Facetime grandparents about. It ranks ahead of making all “A’s” on your report card any day. 

I will never forget our daughter Rachel’s first loose tooth. For weeks, she worked it loose. When we announced it “officially loose,” Rachel stood in front of the bathroom mirror for hours pushing it with her tongue and wiggling it with her fingers. That tooth hung on for dear life. It just wouldn’t let go.

One day she was invited to a friend’s house to play and got into a pillow fight. One good knock was all it took and out came the tooth. 

She finally lost her first tooth. The only problem was it got lost in the light-colored shag carpet. The entire family was called in and, on hands and knees, diligently searched for some time until the tooth was eventually recovered and taken safely home to be placed under her pillow.

That diligent, frantic search and that joyous discovery reminds me of three stories Jesus told recorded in Luke 15. He told about the shepherd who was responsible for 100 sheep (Luke 15:4-7). One sheep became lost and the shepherd left the 99 and exhaustively searched until he found the one. He rejoiced and then called together his friends and neighbors to celebrate with him.

Jesus next told of a woman who had ten coins (Luke 15:8-10). She lost one. She lit a lamp and desperately swept the house, frantically looking for that coin. When she found it, she was overjoyed and called together her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her.

Finally, Jesus shared about the lost son (Luke 15:11-32). The son demanded his inheritance from his father, left home, travelled to the far country, and squandered all his father gave him in wild living. Then, in the midst of severe famine, he had a moment of awakening and realized how good he had it in his father’s house.

He returned home, and his father, who must have spent much time every day watching, longing, and praying for his son to return, one day spotted his son a long way off. In a climactic moment in Jesus’ story, the father, filled with compassion, ran to meet his rebellious son, greeting him with kisses and a warm embrace. 

Instead of chastising him, the father threw a feast and celebrated that “this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” 

Known as “The Parable of the Prodigal Son,” in this story Jesus emphasized the love and joy of the compassionate father.

What do we learn from these “lost” parables?

First, lostness is a serious condition. Lostness (being separated from God because of sin) is so serious that the persons in Jesus’ stories went to great lengths to find that which was lost. 

Second, the great length God went to address lostness was giving His Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. Jesus gives eternal life to all who will turn to Him and receive salvation only He gives. 

Third, when someone receives the gift of salvation, heaven throws a party! What a thrilling moment these stories reveal when, after a frantic search, the lost items were found, and the lost son was restored. Heaven rejoiced!

Fourth, every person matters to God. You matter to God. God wants every lost person to come to Christ. 

(David L. Chancey lives in Fayetteville, GA, and serves as transitional pastor at Griffin Church, Griffin, GA. Visit www.davidchancey.com to see his other writings, including his three books).