Quote from Forum Archives on September 5, 2003, 7:08 am

Posted by: Mrsnycegrl <Mrsnycegrl@...>

I love this...... Have a Great day

SCARS IN LIFE

Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida

a little boy wanted 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."

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

too.  No, not from an alligator, 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.

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

for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade   into

dangerous 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.

God has blessed you, so that you can be a blessing to others.

You just never know where a person is in his/her life and

what they are going through. Never judge another persons

scars, because you don't know how they got them everyone.