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Girl Meets God

    by Melissa Mathews

Cut It Off, or Die
Date Posted: November 12, 2006

"Beware of little sins. Mosquitoes drink more blood than lions…" E.P. Brown

This week, I have another one of those gross stories that stems from having all boys. So if you're not ready to be grossed out, you should move away from the computer now, before it gets ugly.

I found myself playing doctor this week to a bummed-up big toe. One of the boys (who will, of course, go unnamed) had lost one of his football cleats, and had been wearing two different size cleats to football practice. The left shoe fit nicely, the right shoe was much too small. Of course, I had no idea this was going on.

By the time I was clued in to the situation, the-unnamed-son had done severe damage to his right toenail. The too-tight shoe had put so much pressure for so long on his big toe that the toenail was swollen and infected. We put some hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic on it, and found the correct size shoe. I don't even know how he was practicing!

The next time I saw the toenail, it was loose, green, and about to fall off. (Remember, I warned you ahead of time.) I was horrified. I had visions of blood poisoning and gangrene traveling up you-don't-know-whose leg. I'm not exaggerating when I say his toenail was green.

With visions of amputation dancing in my head, I took the son with the wounded toe into the bathroom and started doctoring. Bit by bit, we took off the offending nail and cleaned it up. All the while, I was explaining the dangers of infection and gangrene.

"So it would be better to cut off my toe, than die from infection?" Unnamed Son said.

And now, I so clearly had an image of what Jesus meant when he said "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell (Matthew 5:29-30, NIV).

Do you have a toenail that's threatening to ruin your life-- a relationship that's getting too personal, a friend that leads you down bad paths, a credit card that leads you to debt? Is the sin worth the discomfort? Or is gangrene setting in? Is it time for you to let God doctor you up? If you act now, it may save your leg. It may save your life

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Biography Information:
I'm a preacher's kid, pastor's wife, and southern belle who married a Southern California boy. Can you say 'culture clash?' Scott and I have four boys - Max, Mark, Jackson, and Grant who keep us busy with homework and sports.

Scott and I have been married 22 years and currently live in Northern California where we are beginning year five as church planters. I also teach 12th grade English and love it.

I would love to hear from you. Email me anytime at melissa.g.mathews@gmail.com
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