"Never be ashamed of the scars that life has left you with. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed, you endured the pain and God has healed you." (I cannot find an author for this quote.) A friend and I have been in a dialogue about this quote. At first, we both appreciated the quote and then we both began to doubt whether there are truly scars left behind if God is the healer. Now, however, I am back to believing that scars are necessary. I am all about mentoring and mentoring is all about receiving guidance from one who has already walked the path that you are walking. So...perhaps those scars that we carry are a way for others to recognize that we have walked a certain path or have defeated a certain foe or battled a certain battle. Then they can be drawn to us or vice versa when we need to be a mentor or to find a mentor. Perhaps our scars are necessary to make us better instruments in God's hands.
I am seeing a couple of people I love very much dealing with old wounds right now. And I am being reminded that so often, we can do all the right things, but the choices of others or physical/chemical issues or the simple workings of life mean that we cannot totally close some wounds. We cannot control others or vicissitudes of life or sometimes even the physical/chemical imbalances. So, if we cannot control these things, what do we do to heal? How do we repent if another's bitterness means that we are not allowed to be free of past mistakes? Many who may read this would answer with the word "God" and I cannot argue with that, but I want more than just that one word. I realize that I am tired and I am stubborn and ornery and I am near to allowing my own bitterness at the pain I see in those I love overwhelm me. But I am still open to answers and to dialogue and to trying to find some peace. Any thoughts out there...
Well, well, well...I had just posted this when the following quote popped up on FB, from the C.S. Lewis page..."It is made perfectly clear that if we do not forgive we shall not be forgiven. There are no two ways about it. What are we to do?" - Mere Christianity...Ask and you will be given food for thought...
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to say "God" and I have complete faith God does answer prayers and has a plan, so don't get me wrong when I say it takes more than God. God requires us to work and to make the effort. If it was so easy as saying God then we wouldn't have any problems or trials. I would also have more money than I know what to do with, LOL. God is in control but He also gives us freewill to do as we choose and to make our own decisions. Which I find odd to think that when we know God has a plan for our lives but He will put us where we should be; that is another discussion. But back on track, only you can decide to be free of past mistakes. You can repent and ask for forgiveness but you can't force people to forgive. If they are still bitter then pray for them but you can't let it stop you from learning and moving on. Focusing on past mistakes takes away from the present and future. It is those mistakes regardless of the reason and the trials we go thru that strengthens our faith, makes us stronger and prepares us for future mistakes/trials. Just my thoughts. My favorite verse to get me thru problems is 1 Corinthians 2:5 "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."
ReplyDeleteRegarding the C.S. Lewis quote, I have had lengthy discussions about forgiveness. All were inconclusive about what, exactly, forgiveness is. What was concluded is that forgiveness is a chosen response, whether you're forgiving a person, or the universe. Enter the word, "victim." I know some very angry people who refuse to forgive, and have let themselves become victims. After years, victimhood (is that a word?) has become woven into their beings, and shedding it is like giving up a part of themselves.
ReplyDeleteYou have had to face this issue in such a real way. Forgiveness is not something that I have found anything conclusive about either, aside from it being a very personal issue. But thank you, Ellen, for bringing in the word "victim". Reading that word was powerful, in dealing with some of the situations that I find myself working through. For instance, tomorrow, my cousin Rick will be laid to rest. Because of my Uncle Ted's ex wife's choice to not allow her children to have anything to do with our family throughout our childhood years and turned her children against their dad and his family, even after my uncle turned his life around, now I will not know Rick. This hurts and makes me angry but I cannot change it, only deal with it. And work not to allow myself to become embittered. Because to do so would make me a victim. GREAT POINT!
ReplyDeleteI am only a month late! In thinking of scars, the thought came to me of the marks that the Savior retains in His hands and feet and sides as remembrance and proof of what He went through.
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