One week ago, something strange happened to me.

I woke up one morning and oddly, my tongue was irritated. It’s almost inexplicable. Totally weird!!! I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that I had NOTHING hot (I was on fruits, veggies and water that whole week) and I did not bite my tongue.

If I just drank water, my tongue was heavy to lift, my mouth felt uncomfortable and I was now talking like I was tie-tongue. I investigated via the mirror and I could see the raw flesh under the original covering of my tongue. What happened??!!!

It was a rough few days as I couldn’t even eat a grape. And yes, I tried.

One day, my husband made me a hearty omelette and for lunch and dinner, he gave me mashed potatoes. That was the closest I got to meals that day and believe it or not, eating those simple meals was painful!!!! You see, the movement of the tongue to aid in swallowing was further troublesome. Even my own saliva was BURNING my tongue!

The previous day, I called my husband and asked him to bring me a green smoothie for lunch, which I thank God I could drink with a straw and my head basically tilted to the side in an effort not to further aggravate that side of the tongue. I was truly hungry and needed something in my stomach. I drank it like someone who found an oasis in the desert!

This whole situation was very humbling. I have taken my tongue for granted. I NEED my tongue to speak, to sing, to eat, to drink. I limited verbal conversations and even verbal prayers. Thank God we could pray within the spirit and God still hears. My tongue was certainly not functioning properly, so my 77-year-old mother advised I put raw aloe on it. I did that for about three days to no avail.

As I prayed through my tears one morning, I thought of how vital my tongue is and how helpless I felt. It’s amazing how we just expect every organ to work – automatically. We don’t give it a second thought.

I FINALLY started feeling the beginning of my healing on Sunday after taking the advice of one of my brothers, backed by my husband and approved by a pharmacist: one part peroxide, one part water. Combine and swash around the mouth.

I can tell you that within hours I started feeling a difference and yesterday I was able to fully enjoy a Greek salad topped with a chicken salad – first meal without any pain!!!! PRAISE YE THE LORD!!!! I could eat without worrying about keeping food on one side of my mouth!!! I could chew minus the pain!!!!

Moreover, I thought of HOW I’ve been using my tongue. Do I always use it to uplift, to encourage, to speak life? James is my favourite book of the Bible because of its practicality. Chapter 3 speaks of the tongue being a “little member” that can cause a “fire.” The tongue is DANGEROUS. Use it wisely, people!!!!

Growing in Christ,

Hadassah