The Scars

THE SCARS

 

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 mother -- in the house was looking out the window – saw

the two as they got closer and closer together.

 

In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son

as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became

alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late.

Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock,

the mother grabbed her 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 mother, but

the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened

to drive by, heard her 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 mother’s fingernails dug into his flesh

in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

 

The newspaper reporter who interviewed 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 mom wouldn’t let go.”

 

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You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too.

No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. But,

the scars of a painful past. 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. If you have Christ in your life, you have become

a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you

in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous

situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril – and

we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That’s when the

tug-o-war begins, and if you have the scars of His love on your

arms be very, very grateful. He did not -- and will not -- let you go.