Scars

I met a boy, rather a young man. . .he had just turned 19, several weeks ago.  He had been temporarily homeless and I met him through his case worker.  My family took him out to celebrate his birthday.  A precious lady, a stranger, gave him a bible with his name engraved on the front.  He smiled big when he saw his name, rubbing his hand over it taking it all in.   The next week, he allowed me to interview him for the book I'm working on.  But I didn't just want a story, I wanted to be his friend.  He has had a hard life, full of pain in one way and another and another.  He has scars. . .physical and emotional.  He knew God but did not know the Son. I had the priveledge of introducing him to another who bears scars, one I know understands this young man.  . . Jesus Christ, our great and awesome Savior and Healer.  By the end of our visit, this young man wanted Jesus in his broken, scarred heart. 

A heart that was full of the pain of memories that bring tears to the eyes, makes one hang their head in sorrow,  made me feel like I was going to hyperventilate just hearing the stories.  The feelings of anger and sorrow to the point of bringing sharpness to the skin, ripping it until the red runs down the body onto the floor was almost more than  I could take. 

But I prayed silently as I listened, for I wanted him to see I cared, cared enough to listen and take it all in for him.  So much had been taken from him, I wanted to give to him what so many need today. . .a listening ear, a listening spirit that will sit through the stories and pain so they can let it out.  It's so much better to let it out this way than to take the sharpness of one that rips the skin.

He has healed from the broken skin and blood and the desire to tear, but scars are there.  Our pastor said from the pulpit that scars are blessings when we give them to God.  Not curses but blessings. They can be reminders of God's mercifulness and faithfulness to bring one through a trying time. Oh, how hard this must be for the one who carries so many.  I pray now that this young man has the Healer in his heart, he will learn to see the scars as blessings and use them for God's purpose.  God did not bring about these scars but He can use them for good, for His glory. 

I asked him, who told me things he said he had not told anyone else, why me?  He said when he looked at me the first time, he saw genuiness, that I was real.  Oh, how I pray that I don't let him down.  For those who don't know him, don't understand him.  Sometimes it becomes necessary to tell, for healing, for understanding, for love to come where it needs to be.  This is why I write the stories of precious people that others do not understand.  I want there to be love where love is not felt. 

This young mans scars are now pink and healed over.  May his heart become healed now that the Savior is residing in this precious ones heart.  And may this young one begin to know that unconditional love that Jesus gave to us all. 

If you see the scars on one, do not pity.  Be encouraged, see the strength it took for one to come out on the other side of healed skin, and let this strength be what you fall on to bring you through whatever may be hurting you. 

Do you know this love? If not, receive from the One who bore scars for you out of love.  Do you know someone who needs it?  Go. . . give. . .love with the love of Jesus.  That kind of love can heal the most deepest of scars.  Does your skin bear the image of scars?  Wear them as a badge of courage.  It says you survived. It says you are strong. As a scar wearer, you are in the best of company.

Dear Readers,

I would like you to join me now in prayer for this young man. . .

Dear Heavenly Father,

We pray blessings to rain down on this young man and his future. First of all, we thank you for his new salvation.  Thank you for what you did for him and all of us on the cross and thank you for the open heart he had on this last Valentines Day and the privilege of being able to bring him to you.  We pray that he would grow in strength in every area of his life.  We pray that he would be healed of any emotional wounds that are still there and that he would learn to thank you for the scars and to use them to share a testimony that is his only and to give glory and honor to you Father for all of it.  May his future be strong and bright and we pray that he would always remember to look to you for that strength and guidance and for answers that he seeks. We pray that you would continue to bring strong Christian people into his life to befriend him and help to grow in his walk with you.  Thank you for being with him and bringing him this far.  We thank you for what you are going to do in this young man’s life and now give you all the glory and honor for all that you have done and will do in this precious young man.

We pray this in the name of Jesus,

Amen

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