A Blog about a Frog!

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."  John 10:10

Today was like many other summer days; we spent the morning on a project (cleaning out closets) and the afternoon rewarding ourselves with a swim at my parent's house. I highly recommend having a friend or relative with a pool close by. Anyway, before swimming the kids always check the pool strainer for frogs to be rescued. I'm not sure if it's the chemicals or just not having solid ground for a little r&r, but frogs don't last long in the strainer. 

Today, Gracie encountered a stubborn little frog that just refused to be helped. As soon as she would lift him from the pool and place him in the safety of the grass, he'd jump right back into the pool again. Knowing the fate of so many other pool frogs before him, Gracie was devastated. She kept saying, "I'm trying to save you, frog. I'm trying to help you."  

Hearing her concern, I thought of the one who saved me. How hurt He must be when, after being saved, we return to the life He died to rescue us from. That life may feel as familiar as cold water to a frog but God has something better for us. 

What this frog couldn't see is that my parents have a beautiful lake just a few jumps away. He was settling for the toxic, man-made pool that was never intended for him when, all the while, there was something better. 

In John 10:10, God says He came not just to give us life but an abundant life. But, we'll never see that abundant life if we jump back into a life that's toxic for us. It may be scary to take a leap of faith when the lake is nowhere in view, but it’s worth it. Let's quit settling for the pool and follow God to the lake!

P.S. – Just as we were about to leave for the afternoon, our little froggy friend swam straight to Gracie (seriously) and allowed her to scoop him up and place him in the grass.  He looked determined to stay out of the pool this time.  J

The Beauty of Our Scars

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."  Psalm 147:3

I recently watched an IMAX film about Great White Sharks.  Seeing such mighty predators glide gracefully through the water was mesmerizing.  What I quickly noticed was that each shark was covered in scars from tooth to tail...and yet they were absolutely stunning in their beauty.

The narrator mentioned how these markings, which varied from individual to individual, told what all the shark had experienced and survived.  I began thinking about my own scars and the stories they had to tell.  The 3" gash on the back of my left calf tells of a run-in with a bull at 8 years old, the road rash mark on the inside of my right wrist tells of a daring downhill adventure on a skateboard at 13 (this was back in the day when Christian Slater was "Gleaming the Cube" and hanging on my wall).  Yes, there are times that I'm all dressed up for a special night out with my hubby when I glance the tell-tell signs of a tomboy past and wish I had taken better care of myself.  But most of the time, the scars make me laugh.  Each one comes with a memory and a lesson learned along the way.  They are proof that I have experienced life and survived.

If only it were as easy to see my emotional scars with that same grace.  Sometimes, when God heals us from painful circumstances, a scar remains.  I have often prayed for God to remove all evidence of past hurts and mistakes but I'm starting to understand that even scars have their purpose.  Just like my skateboarding scar has served as a reminder to weigh the probability of survival before launching down a hill, there's a scar on my heart reminding me to let God provide the friendships He desires to bless me with rather than launching into relationships He never intended.  The freckles and sunspots from hours in the great outdoors remind me to cover myself in sunscreen while the spots on my heart remind me to cover myself in the protection that comes with obedience to God's Word. 

Let's try together to start viewing our emotional scars as beautiful testimonies of what we have experienced and survived instead of shameful reminders of mistakes gone by.  Each one a tale to tell and hope of healing to others we meet along the way. 

P.S. - I can't wait to see Jesus' beautiful nail scarred hands.  Now there's scars that tell an amazing story worth sharing!