Scars

The following is a quote from a book by Chris Cleave called Little Bee  (page 9).  It was an interesting book and I was most intrigued by this particular passage.

"...a scar is never ugly.  That is what the scar makers want us to think.  But you and I, we musts make an agreement to defy them.  We must see all scars as beauty.  Okay?  this will be our secret.  Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying, a scar means, I survived." 

In particular I thought about all of the "stuff" we have to go through here on earth in our earthly lives, the events that leave us scarred on the inside.  The things that make us feel like less of a person.  As most people do, I've wondered "why?" or "everyone can see this ugly mess I've gone through."  I have had friends that have gone through "stuff" and want to know "now what" or "how do I go on, everyone knows."  Although I consider myself someone with a pretty strong faith, frankly, sometimes I have a hard time finding the right words for an explanation.  So when I came across this passage I thought it was a beautiful analogy for this question.  Something I could tuck away in my memory bank to help connect the dots.  


The stuff that we go through as children of God make us who He wants us to become.  When we take our situations, whatever they may be, and find a way to glorify God, we become more beautiful.  If we do not allow a negative situation to turn us around or glorify our Father, than the scar does not form because we are dying if you will.  However, if we allow the scar from the "stuff" to make us new then we are more beautiful than before, we can proclaim victory, and those around us will know we are survivors through our Christ Jesus.