Scars- We All Have Them!

“Other times, I look at my scars and see something else: a girl who was trying to cope with something horrible that she should never have had to live through at all. My scars show pain and suffering, but they also show my will to survive. They’re part of my history that’ll always be there.” ― Cheryl Rainfield

As I was shaving in front of the bathroom mirror, I couldn’t help but notice the huge scar on my stomach. It reminded me that it has been 12 years since I had surgery for colon cancer. Two feet of colon removed and cancer free for over a decade and the ugly scar to prove it.

We all have scars some visible and some invisible. Some physical scars are hidden by clothing; some are visible and can’t be covered. When I see scars, I see stories. A scar means you have survived and every scar tells a story.

But, what about those scars we can’t see? Deep emotional scars are harder to heal. The loss of a loved one, physical and verbal abuse, bullying, and divorce, abandonment, losing a job or a home are scars too. These scars are scars of survival that make us stronger and are proof that God heals.

[pullquote]“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” ― Kahlil Gibran[/pullquote]

There is beauty in your scars. Scars build strength, cultivate courage, deepen our compassion for others and make us happy to be alive. Our scars help us in other ways as well.

Our scars draw us closer to Jesus. For me, my cancer surgery and survival was like a rebirth. The soft focus of life was replaced with a sharper, clearer vision and appreciation for life. My scars reordered my priorities to faith, family, friends, and serving others.
They remind us of the healing power of God. In my prayer, I realized that the hurt was over, the cancer was gone, the wound was healed and that God had humbled me with His amazing grace.
Our Scars keep us from hurting others. When we realize that everyone has scars, we become more sensitive to the people we meet. Everyone has a story to tell. The suffering and courage that some people have endured is encouragement for us and increases our sensitivity to the scars we cannot see.
Our scars remind us of our purpose. We are called to help others. And, when we have suffered we become better equipped to help others. We can turn our scars into stars and give encouragement to others that we survived and they can too.

[pullquote]“Show me your hands. Do they have scars from giving? Show me your feet. Are they wounded in service? Show me your heart. Have you left a place for divine love?” –Fulton J. Sheen[/pullquote]

Be kind to the people you meet. You never know what they have been through. You don’t know what scars they received from what they have endured.

12 years cancer free and I wouldn’t change a thing. I am so grateful for what I have learned these past 12 years.

Yes we all have scars. Scars that make us stronger, more courageous and deepen our compassion for others. If you have no scars, you haven’t really lived. Scars make us beautiful because they mean that we are alive. Thank you Lord for healing me and thank you for my scars.

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