What if I told you I had a marvelous tip for dealing with scars?
If I’d have known at the beginning of this summer how many scars I’d soon acquire, it would have been discouraging. 2 years of illness and a previous major surgery and subsequent hospitalization with sepsis and staph had left me anxious, constantly wondering what may happen next.
At 44, I didn’t desire the unappealing reality of instant menopause which happened as a result of a needed but unexpected hysterectomy and my first set of scars of the summer. That surgery revealed a large thyroid tumor resulting in my 2nd surgery in eight weeks, and yet another super visible scar.
Aside from physical scars, our family has been walking through some deep scar producing valleys emotionally, that have uprooted our family in indescribable ways.
I have cried out to God asking for help deciphering what lessons we are missing to make this season of pain and scarring seem endless.
Sometimes He’s seemed silent.
Mostly though, He has brought sweet reminders of HIS presence and love for me.
As I’ve sat resting from my last surgery, I’ve contemplated more deeply wounding and scars in general.
Jesus has scars.
His scars show evidence of his love for me and God’s divine plan to draw us to himself.
How amazing is that?
My scars are as nothing in comparison. However as I think back over the love and care God has shown me through their obtaining, it has changed my perception.
My thyroid scar, for example, is there because a CT Scan tech took a different picture then he was supposed to. Instead of stopping the camera at my shoulders, he went to my jawbone which captured my tumor perfectly.
Coincidence? I don’t think so!
The emotional scars from our family’s struggles have brought blessings too. Meeting Godly new friends and figuring out our God placed passions and fun ways to pursue them, may not have happened in the scar-free zone we were comfortable in.
In reality I don’t have a physical cream or potion to offer to make scars disappear.
However, I can attest that changing perception has helped me see my scars differently.
Looking at our scars as gifts we can thank God for, may just make the process of living with them easier.
I’ve had this song on repeat….
1 Peter 2:24 ESV
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds (scars) you have been healed.