When I think about a root canal-- and doesn't everyone like to contemplate this? -- I think about all of the crud and gunk that is scraped away in order to make room for a stronger more durable substance that will save the tooth and make it usable.  I recently read an article in Home School Enrichment, "The Necessity of Replacing Evil with Good"  that really hit it.  Maybe everyone else had this figured out, but it was new to me.  Basically, what I learned is that true repenting involves not only stopping the offensive behavior but REPLACING it with good.  If I am quick to anger then I need to not only work on stopping the temper tantrum, but praactice replacing this with loving and kind words, patience and peacefulness. 

So many times, as Christians we just want to eliminate that which offends from our lives.  One example in the article was of a person replacing the horrid music with perhaps Christian music-- we shouldn't just stop listening to music altogether.  This leaves a hole to be filled.  Our family hates what is currently on tv and in the movies (except the food channel, history channel and fox news...  but even then...?)  We replace this "entertainment" with old movies and more book reading, game playing etc.  

We can use this replacement to help our kids in their daily walk.   Teach them to not just say, "sorry!"  when they hurt a sibling, but then require that they spend time going out of their way to do kind things for that sibling. 

The article offers so much more.  I highly recommend it.  Maybe you can read it in the waiting room of the dentist's office.  It will take your mind off the root canal!

ps-- It's good to be HOME!! --even if I do have a pile of laundry again!!