Things started to go sour while I was at the dentist. I had to have two crowns. The receptionist had previously told me how much each crown was and how much my insurance would pay. She had given me a sheet of paper with my portion of the cost written on it.
For those of you fortunate enough not to have had a crown, its a 2-step procedure; one appointment for the drilling and putting on a temporary crown and another once the permanent crown comes in from the lab. I had paid for my portion for both crowns at the first appointment and this one was just to get the permanent crowns put on. Therefore, I was under the assumption that everything had been paid for and got ready to leave. That’s until she told me that I owed $400 that the insurance didn’t pay. That was 40 percent more than I was quoted!
She didn’t have any explanation other than the insurance just didn’t pay it. In my mind I begin to question the integrity of the office. Previously one of the crowns had to be sent back to the lab because it was defective. Were they secretly charging me for that?
Driving home that night still numb in the mouth and angry inside my head, a deer runs right in front of my new car. There was no missing it! It was a dark night on an unlit road and there it was suddenly right in my lane. My front bumper just brushed him as he flew by.
I make it home, break the bad news to my husband, we assess the damage and call the insurance company.
Wow, this has been a trying day! At least tonight is bible study night! I love getting together with our small group of friends for bible study and prayer every other Wednesday night. It’s comforting, encouraging, and exhilarating to spend time with them studying and discussing Gods word.
In the middle of the study I get a call from my daughter who lives out of town. They are in another time zone and she never calls that late at night so I take the call. She sadly informs me that her husband’s father has just passed away!
That night my husband and I got in bed and just held each other. Completely wrung out and saddened by the events of the day, yet still so incredibly thankful for all that we realize we have.
Sure it’s irritating to be charged more than you were planning to pay for something, yet we have to be thankful to have access to fantastic health and dental care, even though it’s almost always overpriced. And we can afford to pay the extra $400. Paying that is not going to cause us not to eat and I know that is not the case for everyone on this planet.
The car can be fixed. We’ll be out a little for the deductible and a some inconvenience taking it to the shop, but that’s it. I wasn’t hurt and at the end of the day that’s what is most important. I’ll have my car back soon and life will go on. When you think about that, it’s hardly worth getting upset over.
As for Mr. Goolsby, while it’s a terribly sad loss for the family, we know he is in heaven now. He loved and served God all his life through humanitarian missions work all over the globe. A life well lived and, though so terribly hard on his family to let him go, there is comfort in knowing he is in Gods presence. For a Christian death is not the end. The family will grieve through the loss knowing that one day they will be united with him again.
We all have rough days, but when you’re a child of the King you just can’t stay down for very long. There is always hope, joy and comfort even when things go terribly wrong.
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Duking Out Life 
I think we all need to read posts like this sometimes. It’s so easy to allow life’s challenges to get on top of us instead of trying to see the light in situations and keep our heads up. My sincere condolences to your family, and I am happy to see that you’re keeping a positive mental attitude.
LikeLiked by 1 person