Scars

Our son, Ryan, recently cut his finger, and while it wasn't a major trauma, it needed a bit of attention. The next morning when he awoke, he showed it to me, and I showed him the place on my finger where I'd had a similar cut. I recounted the day, many years ago, when I'd become enamored with a spankin' new pair of scissors and got rather "cut-happy." I delighted in swiftly gliding through paper with it and was unaware of the fact my finger had gotten in the way. 'Nough said.

I told him he and I would have matching scars.

Then I began thinking about the scars on my face...one right along my hairline and another small one just below my left eye. It's a reminder of that day in 1st grade when I was waiting to get on the merry-go-round. A little boy who was half on and half off the merry-go-round knocked me down as it spun around. My face was dragged across the gravel and I got 5 stitches and a new Barbie doll dress out of the deal.

There's the scar on my inner left foot...evidence of where I'd had surgery to have an extra bone removed right before 8th grade; the small scars on my abdomen where I'd had laparoscopic surgery in hopes of resolving our issues with infertility a few years ago.

All these scars have a story behind them. They're visible reminders of a moment in time. But as I recounted my scar stories, I got to thinking about scars of another kind. I got to thinking about the pain, the open wounds, and the stuff of life. I was reminded how in those dark moments of trial and despair, those open wounds sting. They hurt and weep and seem to be all-encompassing. But even in those dark valleys, my Savior---the Great Physician---knows what He is doing. And as a good doctor, He knows how to put the pieces back together again. It is, afterall, His business. There may be scars afterwards, but the Bible tells us that "suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:4

The "scars" of life give us further opportunity to testify of the grace of God which carried us through those dark days. Just as my physical scars give me a platform to tell my boys stories of where I've been, my "life" scars give me opportunity to point to my Jesus...the One who is sufficient and able; the One who is faithfully at work to develop His character within me.