Pride Goeth Before a Fall

With three boys in tow, I whirled into the new dentist's office.  Moving to a new city had caused change all the way around.  Among the things that we left behind was a beloved dentist with which were familiar.

  The office was large and housed several dentists.  Once the boys were settled into separate rooms, I asked to use the facilities.  The receptionist pointed and I turned to follow her direction.  Thankfully, the restroom was at the end of the hall.  No mistaking it, the door stood ajar.

  Upon leaving the restroom, I casually glanced to my left.  Sitting on his stool was a dentist that was looking back at me.  I smiled graciously and headed back down the hall, a little miffed at his obvious stare.  Our visit went as expected and I scheduled two follow-up visits for two of the boys.

  About a week later, we returned to the office.  By now, I was familiar with my surroundings and headed to the restroom while waiting for my son’s appointment.  Again, the open door beckoned at the end of the hall.  Though forgotten before I went in, I was reminded of the previous week’s encounter when I left the restroom.  Sitting in almost the same spot as before was the dentist from last week.  And this time, he greeted me with a look that was somewhere between incredulous and smirking.  A semi-smile on his face made me feel uncomfortable. 

   Now, I was bothered.  What was wrong with this creeper?!  I was a married woman, and I did not appreciate his obvious staring.  The hallway seemed to lengthen as I walked back to the waiting room.  I could feel his eyes boring a hole between my shoulder blades.  How dare he?  Oh wouldn’t I like to give him a piece of my mind!  But on second thought, I surely did not want to encourage conversation of any kind. 

   I made a bee-line for my husband’s office and relayed what had happened.  By now, I was irate and ready to change dentists.  I had not dressed provocatively.  I had not asked for his attention.  And yet, I felt as though I was under a microscope. 

  Our final appointment arrived yet another week later.  I had made sure that I would not need to visit the Powder Room while I was there.  Unfortunately, I had forgotten to do the same with my three-year-old.  Before our visit was over, he was dancing on one foot and then the other.  It was with some trepidation that I rounded the corner to head down the hallway.  As I made the turn, I was faced with a most humbling sight.  There at the end of the hall, no longer beckoning was the closed door of the restroom.  Emblazoned across the front in letters that seemed to jump right off the door was the word, “MEN”.

  If possible, I would have crawled into my purse that day.  Ego completely deflated, I laughed out loud drawing a somewhat agitated glance from the receptionist.  Totally embarrassed, I confessed to my husband what I had done…TWICE.  Humility IS a good thing… right?

Romans 12:3  "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."