Got Scars?

"Our Scars are there to remind us that our past did really happen"--Hannibal Lector.
Have you had accidents in your lifetime? You know, like me, cuts, bruises, scraps, concussions, broken bones...........? I imagine you have had some if not most of these. I have broken about 4 fingers in my life, I have scars from my childhood all over my hands and arms, pretty faded now, most of them happened a long time ago, when I was a "Wild Child"
Each one of those scars tells a story. There is a large scar pretty faded on my fingers of my left hand, where my Mom accidentally shut the car door on my hand. I have a scar on the back of my right hand were I was trying to catch a pop fly up against the brick wall in left field, I am left handed, thus the glove was on my right hand. I caught the ball, by the way, Yeah Me:) But scraped my hand up pretty bad. I have more but you get the deal.
Put this down as another reason we go through trials in our daily walk. Besides strengthening our faith, and trust that God can and will help us through these trials, we have scars on our hearts to remind us again, what happened and what He did.
My Mom died last year, this is a huge scar. When I think of my Mom suffering with cancer for the last 2 years of her life, I remember how the Lord was always there in her, she did not complain she did ask why, she smiled a lot, and she trusted Him. I now have a compassion for anyone who has a dying relative because I remember that time. Thus a scar.
About 7 years ago my ex-wife and I divorced, it is rough still today, it hurts, thinking that something in your life failed. It is easy to think your whole life is a failure, because you failed at such a important thing as a marriage. That is a scar. When I meet a man who is going through a divorce or has recently been divorced, I know how he feels, regardless of the "blame" the "fault" it is very hard, the end of a life, it seems. I can see the scar and remember.
I have a scar in the middle of my lower back where I had back surgery some years ago. I struggled with a "bad back" for years until one day, I could not stand the pain any longer. Turns out I had a ruptured disc and had to have surgery. I don't see that scar very often, because of where it is, but when I feel it or see it in the mirror, it all comes back. The pain, the people who cared enough for me to come to the hospital, the relief when the surgery was over. I remember it totally.
When we are hurt, physically or mentally or spiritually, it changes us. It is like when you eat something that makes you sick. Every time that same dish is served the feeling comes back. When I was a kid I got so sick on Pizza. I did not eat pizza again for about 20 years. I love it now, but still there are times.
When we are hurt when we go through trials, and pain we remember. Sometimes it makes us bitter, angry, vindictive hard. Pain has a purpose, it is that we learn from it, and remember it. In our bodies it is there to let us know something is wrong. I think in other ways it is there for the same reason.
Relationships can bring huge pain. If someone you love is verbally abusive to you or worse physically abusive, then there is something wrong with them. There is problems they need to change. If it gets so bad you can no longer take it, you need to leave, get help and seek safety. Talk to the authorities, and get the other party to a place they can get help.
I have been told several times in my life that "You need help". I would like to say I went right down to a licensed Professional and made an appointment. But that is not true. I continued down the same path until I crashed. That is when the pain really started. I had hit bottom,literately, and saw no way up.
But that is when God reached me. The Lord reached down picked me up and led me out. You see if it was not for the pain, I would never be honest with myself and admit there was a problem, the scars are there, still, yes. Galatians 6:17
From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.
In this scripture, Paul mentions his scars. He says he has scars on his body that show he belongs to Jesus. So to be a true christian and belong to Jesus, we must have scars? I think to be a christian for very long, yes you not must, but WILL have scars.
Scars make us stronger. I heard that when surgeons operate, they stay away from scars, they cannot cut into skin that is scarred as easily as "virgin skin". Why? because the skin is stronger under the scar. The body has built up layers and layers of skin to protect the old wound. Get it? Scars, or old wounds, make us stronger. Experiences in life, show us how to avoid or embrace them when we encounter them again.
To sum up what I am trying to say: Embrace your trials in this life, for they will make you stronger. Paul told us to :"Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
We are supposed to "Count it all Joy?" Be happy about problems? NO, that is pretty much impossible but look at the bright side, Paul is saying, If it were not for the trials and tribulations, we would continue to be little bitty babies. To grow up spiritually and physically, we need scars.
I am reminded of the movie Jaws. In one scene the three guys hunting the shark are on a boat and getting a little drunk. They start comparing scars from shark attacks in their lives. Then one pulls up his shirt and says something like:""1972 Summer fair in Chicago Ill, Sarah Lynn broke my heart" And they all roll with laughter, it is a funny scene. But you see we all have scars, either visible or on our hearts.
Don't let your scars determine who you are, let them remind you of who you used to be, before the Lord worked again in your life.