"You have a very short frenum," the dentist announced as she removed her hands from my mouth.

"A what?"

"A frenum. It's the piece of soft tissue that runs in a thin vertical line between the lips and the gums. I have a long one, which means that more of my gum shows when I smile. Your short one means that your gums don't show when you smile, and I can't pull your upper lip back very far to do this oral surgery."

Who knew? I'd never heard the term before, but I'd always wondered why some people's smiles were more open than others.

That was my new fact for the day. I enjoy learning new information. But more than that, it was one more way to marvel at how God created each of us, as David says:

Psalm 139:13-14a – For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (ESV)

The average human head has around 100,000 hairs (blonds have more, redheads have fewer). In 2021, there are approximately 8 billion people on earth, so God knows the current status of 8 quadrillion hairs on all of our heads — even the ones that are turning gray or the 50 or so that we lose every day.

Luke 12:6-7 – Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (NIV)

We are so precious to our wonderful Creator God that He even keeps track of each hair, whether it's still on our head or has long departed. Each morning, as we brush our hair and watch some of it float to the counter, we can remember to thank God for His loving watchcare over us and His intimate knowledge of everything about us.

If He numbers each hair on our heads and doesn't forget the smallest sparrow, how much more does He care about the trials and tribulations of our lives! It's all important to Him — everything from car trouble to health problems to family difficulties. We can put aside our fear and trust Him to be with us through it all.

Is it easy to do that? I'll be the first to admit that it is not. Some days, it's a moment-by-moment surrender, even a struggle. Here is one of my favourite Scriptures:

Isaiah 41:10 – Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (ESV)

I picture God's righteous right hand reaching down to pick me up and hold on to me.

Will you join me in acknowledging God's intimate knowledge of our lives, His loving watchcare over us, and how it can lead us to lose our fear and trust Him to be with us in any situation? Pray with me:

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your wonderful acts of creation and how You lovingly created me and know me individually. I don't want to be afraid. I want to stay in Your will and look to You for strength and guidance in any situation, large or small. Amen.

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About the author:

Sharon Cook <craftercook@gmail.com>
Apache Junction, Arizona, USA
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