The Toothbrush I Broke

The other day, I found myself standing in my bathroom, brushing my teeth with a brand-new electric toothbrush.

Now, I know that's a strange way to start a blog... but stay with me.

For years, I've used one of those nice electric toothbrushes that seem a little expensive until you realize how incredibly clean your teeth feel afterward. I love them. I've used them for years and never thought much about it.

Less than a year ago, we replaced our old set with a new one. Everything was great until earlier this month when I noticed mine wasn't working quite right.

The little metal piece that holds the brush head in place had become bent. The toothbrush rattled so violently that I actually had to hold the brush head steady while I brushed. It was loud. Really loud. Loud enough that you couldn't hear someone talking in the room.

Meanwhile, my husband would walk in with his toothbrush from the same set, and it sounded smooth and gentle, exactly the way it was supposed to.

At first, I was frustrated.

Actually, if I'm being honest, I was aggravated.

We had just bought these. Why was mine already broken?

So eventually, I did what I should have done weeks earlier and replaced it.

The first time I used the new one, something hit me.

The old toothbrush wasn't defective.

I broke it.

Not intentionally, of course.

But somewhere along the way, my stress level had become so high that every time I brushed my teeth, I was pressing down far harder than necessary. These toothbrushes are designed to do the work for you. All you're supposed to do is guide them.

Instead, I was forcing them.

I kept doing it without even realizing it.

Day after day.

Eventually, all that pressure bent the metal and ruined the toothbrush.

Standing there in my bathroom, I had a thought that stopped me cold:

If I'm subconsciously breaking a toothbrush because of stress, something needs to change.

I started thinking about the last year.

The challenges.

The responsibilities.

The pressure I'd been carrying without really noticing it.

Some seasons in life feel temporary.

Others don't.

Parenting a child with special needs is one of the greatest blessings of my life.

It's also one of the hardest.

Some days are beautiful.

Some are exhausting.

Most are both.

Then there are the concerns that so many families carry right now—the economy, rising costs, uncertainty, and the endless balancing act of keeping a business moving forward while taking care of the people who depend on you.

It's a lot.

Maybe your stress looks different than mine.

Maybe it's health concerns.

Financial pressure.

A child you're worried about.

Or a burden you've carried for so long that you've almost forgotten what life feels like without it.

Whatever it is, stress has a way of settling into our bodies before we even realize it's there.

Sometimes it shows up in headaches.

Sometimes in sleepless nights.

Sometimes in short tempers.

And apparently, sometimes it shows up in broken toothbrushes.

The realization wasn't really about dental hygiene.

It was about my soul.

Because when I looked honestly at my life, I realized I didn't need a better coping mechanism.

I needed more of God.

More time in His presence.

More quiet moments where the noise stops and His voice becomes clear.

More opportunities to lay down what I'm carrying instead of gripping it tighter.

The world offers all kinds of temporary relief.

Distractions.

Entertainment.

Comfort food.

Endless scrolling.

None of those things are necessarily wrong, but none of them can give the kind of peace that only God can.

His presence doesn't simply distract us from our burdens.

It strengthens us beneath them.

It doesn't always remove the pressure.

Sometimes it changes us in the middle of it.

When I spend time with Him, I feel something happen that I can't fully explain.

My shoulders relax.

My breathing slows.

My perspective shifts.

The circumstances may remain exactly the same, but somehow my heart is steadier.

I'm reminded that I was never meant to carry everything by myself.

Maybe today you're carrying more than you should.

Maybe you've been pressing down harder than necessary, trying to force your way through challenges that God never intended for you to face alone.

If so, let this be your reminder.

Step away from the noise.

Open your Bible.

Sit quietly with the Lord.

Talk to Him honestly.

Let Him meet you right where you are.

Because sometimes the answer isn't working harder.

Sometimes the answer is simply resting in the One who has been waiting for you all along.

And who knows?

You might save a toothbrush in the process.

With love and gratitude,

Layna 💕