Scars Of Love

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 and 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, 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. 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.