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Scars

Scars. You can't get through life without them.
 
 
 
If your heart has never been hurt by a situation, people, decisions
made or even by the fact that you were just there- I'd like to meet you!
 
As they say, rain falls on us all.
No matter what you believe- or don't believe.
Whether you're nice- or not nice.
 
Sometimes it's a pinch. Ouch. And we move on. Merely a flesh wound.
Other times it's a gash that you fear will never, EVER fully heal.
Either way, we end up with scars- and those scars impact us.
 
What I'm referring to here are hurts that people cannot see... that is,
unless there are external signs that reflect inner wounds.
 
insert outer manifestations such as illness, bad behavior, addiction, and other self-medicating means here ____________.
 
Walking around like we don't have them is a mistake.
 
That is (what the counseling world calls it)... denial.
What we need is (as the health care world calls it)... wound care.
 
We are very good at tending to the needs of physical wounds. Not so good at looking to the source of the deeper, hidden kind. It's easier to pass judgement and walk away from those who reveal unpleasant symptoms, than to look a little deeper to the core cause of them with compassion and grace.
 
Isn't that what we would want if someone was looking deep into our hearts-
compassion and grace?
 
So here's the cool thing. We can use our scars to help heal other people's wounds. Our past pain can help redeem their current pain...and somehow, in return, we are again redeemed. 
 
Wound care. 
 
Your scar story doesn't begin and end with you.
You are like a wave in a generational windstorm. You can choose to use your past as a peaceful, healing balm in the middle of someone else's storm- revealing your scars for their good- or you can hide them in shame. Don't hide. You're not alone.
 
Imagine. Weave all of these ugly scars together, and we will have a beautiful tapestry of healing, redemption and hope.
 
What are you doing with your scars this year? 
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