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  forward 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, 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.  Be blessed.