SCARS IN 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 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 pantlegs. 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. 

 Please pass this on to those you love. 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. Also, it is soooo important that we are not selfish to receive the blessings
of these messages without forwarding them to someone else. 

 Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them, and you love
them too~~~~~enough to not let them go.