Angela Tebo Valadez: The Scars Left Behind

The Scars Left Behind from an accident or some type of occurrence can remain for the rest of you life.

Scars are symbolic to events. The Scars Left Behind, remain as a reminder to us of what has happened in the past. These memories can either make us or break us.

Let me share a story with you from the past.

Many years ago on a hot summers day, somewhere in South Florida there was a little boy who had decided that he wanted to go for a swim in an old swimming hole behind his home.

Because he was young in age, of course he was in a hurry to dive into the cool water, so he ran from his back door, leaving behind his shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.

He jumped into the water, not realizing that as he swam towards the middle of the lake, an alligator was at the same time swimming towards the shore.

By this time his mother, who was in the house looked out the window and witnessed the two as they grew closer and closer to each other. In fear, terror and unbelief, she ran immediate towards the water, yelling and screaming to her son as loudly as she possibly could.

The boy hearing her voice, became alarmed and quickly made a u-turn to swim towards his mother. However, it was too late. As he reached her, the alligator had also reached him.

At the dock, the mother reached out and grabbed her son by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. At that moment began an incredible fight, a tug-of-war between the mother and the alligator.

But, the alligator was much too strong for the mother, but, nevertheless, she refused to let go of her son.

Just then, a farmer happens on the scene. He was driving by and heard the mother’s desperate screams for help. The farmer raced from his truck, took aim at the alligator and shot him between the eyes.

Thankfully, after many weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. Though his legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the alligator. On his harms, were extremely deep scratches where his mother’s fingernails had dug into his skin in an effort to hang on to her son.

There was a newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy following the trauma. He asked the boy if he would show him his scars. The boy with a smile on his face lifted up his trousers at the leg, proudly showed his scars.

He also said, “Look at my arms too.” I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mommy wouldn’t let me go.”

In some ways, we can also identify with this little boy because we also have scars. Maybe not from an alligator, but the scars of painful, past spiritual battles. Unfortunately, some of those scars are unsightly and have cause us great pain.

Just like this loving mother would not let go of her son. We have a Father who will never, ever, let go of us either. Always remember this: He did not, can not, and will not ever let you go either.

We all have some sort of Scars left behind, but they did not kill us. The Scars Left Behind, they only made us stronger.

If you enjoyed this article, please “Like and Share.”