Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida . A
little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole
behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he
ran out the back door, Leaving behind shoes, socks, and
shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that
as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was
swimming toward the shore. His mother in the house was
looking out the window saw the two as they got closer and
closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water,
yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her
voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to
swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her,
the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed
her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched
his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the
two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but
the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer
happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his
truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after
weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived.
His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the
animal, and, on his arms, were deep scratches where his
mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to
hang on to the son she loved. The newspaper reporter who
interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show
him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with
obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my
arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them
because my Mom wouldn't let go."
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars,
too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so
dramatic. But the scars of a painful past. Some of those
scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But,
some wounds are because God has refused to let go. In the
midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
The Scripture teaches that God loves you and that you are a
child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in
every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous
situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril -
and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's
when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of
His love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not and
will not - let you go.
