SCARS OF LIFE
Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.
His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go.
A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.
The newspaper reporter interviewing the boy after the trauma asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go.'
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. Not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past or situation. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into danger filled situations not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack.That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.
You just never know where a person is in his/her life and what they are going through. Never judge another person's scars, because you don't know how they got them.
Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.
His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go.
A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.
The newspaper reporter interviewing the boy after the trauma asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go.'
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. Not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past or situation. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into danger filled situations not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack.That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.
You just never know where a person is in his/her life and what they are going through. Never judge another person's scars, because you don't know how they got them.
Isn't that a cool story? Thank you Lisa for sharing it with me. I can't decide what kind of scars I have according to this story. Are they scars of the fire or are they scars of God holding on to me, refusing to let go like the daddy in the story. I wonder because I never cried out for help. I just folded over, fell to the floor and let the fire burn. And then there's the question of why the smoke alarm did not go off quicker. So was God there with me, holding on to me? Do I wear these scars today as a testament to the tight grip he had on me that night, not willing to let go because the doctors say it's a miracle I survived.
Stories like these always make me cry for one, but they also make me question a lot of things, questions that occupy my mind every moment of every day. Questions like where was God that night? But then a story like this comes along and it makes me wonder if He actually was there and these scars are a result of His presence, a result of His grip on my life. After three years of cursing God and wondering why me and why He did this to me, I'd really like to believe that He was there, gripping on to me just like that little boy's daddy, trying to save my life.
3 comments:
What a precious story with a precious message. Thanks for sharing it!
Sarah,
I have followed your path for some time now, silently watching how you’ve grown. You have come so far since you started this blog in 2009. You epitomized this story in so many ways. You see I understand what it feels like to wonder where God’s hand is in such terrible situations. Is He there? Does He just sit by and let these things happen? I was told a long time ago that we are all on winding road; it’s dark and hard to see the path ahead. There are tragedies and heart ache along the way. He watches from above knowing when the road will straighten, the sun will shine, and we will come out into the valley; looking back at the winding road with wisdom and a testimony for others that if you made it, so can they.
I leave you with this scripture:
(II Corinthians 12:9-10) 9. He has said to me, "“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”" Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
You are the strongest women I know and have come out into your valley I have no doubt that your testimony will change lives.
-With all my heart and love
This a great way of seeing how god was with us in our accidents. Very powerful! Your blog is always inspiring. Thanks so much
Luciana Hamilton
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