Posted by rhino on May 28, 2003 at 20:28:11:
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 he 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, 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.
Never judge another persons scars, because you don't know how they got
them.
Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them, and you love
them too~~~~~enough to not let them go