I just added a new scar to my collection, and it is a doozy! It is about five inches long across the back of my arm and over my elbow. What this scar represents is God’s protection and provision at a time of helplessness and pain. I’m not sure how it happened; all I know is I was found unconscious on the Alpharetta Greenway. I don’t even recall getting to the Emergency Room; I simply woke up there and found my left arm heavily bandaged. I was told I fell off my bicycle resulting in a concussion and a fractured elbow. Someone called 911. Police and Fire responded. Still unconscious, I was transported by ambulance to the hospital. And through it all I was held and embraced in the arms of my heavenly Father.

     After being discharged from the hospital, Jesus tended to me through the hands and feet of his body and I experienced Him through the visits, calls, flowers, gift cards and offers to take me wherever I needed to go. I felt loved and was reminded that I am loved.

     As this wound heals, it will be a permanent marker that I will wear for the rest of my life. When I see the scar, I pray I won’t see its ugliness but that I’ll see the beauty it represents – of Christ’s holding me when I lay vulnerable, and the many people He placed around me to care for me.

     I have another scar. One that you might say has marred my face. It is the result of melanoma surgery I had back in 2018. When I look at myself it is easy to be drawn to the sunken area where the cancer burrowed deeply into my cheek. It’s hard to embrace this indelible mark on my body with grace and acceptance because well, it’s my face! But this scar reminds me of the events leading to catching the melanoma in time, and again, the hands and feet of Jesus tending to me during and after surgery. The scar also reminds me that true beauty radiates from the heart. Our external looks will fade away, but the character we hold in what we say and do never fade away.

     Most of us want to hide our scars. We slather them with scar cream and try to cover them up with makeup. I’m just as guilty of this! But our scars are a part of us, and I believe that God intended for them to serve a purpose. They are visible historical markers of painful and challenging events in our lives. But they’re also historical markers of our survival and ensuing strength. And lest we forget, our risen Lord still carried the scars as proof of his painful death and triumphant resurrection. That’s good enough for me! So, I challenge you to look at your scars a bit differently today and be reminded of your ultimate triumphs over tragedy, praise be to God!